BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The Northampton County executive primary is shaping up to be the most expensive in over a decade with the two Democratic candidates spending more than a combined $100,000 ahead of next week's election.
Northampton County Controller Tara Zrinski has slightly outspent former county registrar Amy Cozze, $54,229 to $48,245, according to campaign finance reports.
Northampton County Commissioner Tom Giovanni has spent $3,054 as well. As the only Republican candidate on the primary ballot, he's had little incentive to spend on the race so far.
The last time county executive candidates dropped more money heading into the primary was the 2013 election cycle, which featured a three-way Democratic primary battle.
Then-Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan, former Northampton County Executive Glenn Reibman and then-Northampton County Councilman Lamont McClure spent more than $182,300 heading into that primary.
Callahan won the primary race only to lose to then little-known Republican John Brown in the November election.
Labor unions, small donors and big backers
Zrinksi, who has been endorsed by McClure, entered the year with more than $4,000 in her coffers and raised more than $68,000 toward her cause. Nearly half of that amount came from political action committees, especially unions, according to her report.
Her financial supporters include the International Union of Operating Engineers ($5,000), the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers ($3,500), Plumbers Union Local 690 ($2,500) and the International Union of Painters and Allied Traders ($1,000), among others.
Support from other politicians included $5,000 from incumbent executive McClure's campaign ($5,000); from Lower Mount Bethel Township Supervisor Chris Cook's campaign ($1,800); from a PAC associated with former Philadelphia Controller Jonathan Saidel ($1,000); and from former Bethlehem Mayor Bob Donchez's old campaign account ($500).
Zrinski's major individual donors include C.F. Martin & Co. Executive Chairman Christian Martin ($5,000), former county executives Glenn Reibman ($1,000) and Jerry Seyfried ($600), Northampton County District Attorney Stephen Baratta ($500) and former Northampton County Councilman Michael Corriere ($500).
Cozze's support
Meanwhile, Cozze has raised $59,766 since the new year and had about $11,520 remaining as of May 5. Most of her funding came in the form of large donations from individual donors, including State Reps. Peter Schweyer ($500) and Michael Schlossberg ($500), real estate agency president Lisa Pektor ($1,000), developer Louis Pektor ($3,000) and Murat Guzel, CEO of Natural Food Source in Whitehall Township ($4,000).
Her largest donor, however, is herself — Cozze has donated $7,000 toward her own campaign.
Cozze, who's secured an endorsement from her previous boss former U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, also received a smattering of large donations from PACs, including Sheet Metal Workers Local 19 ($5,000), Ironworkers Local 404 ($1,000) and a PAC associated with former U.S. Rep. Susan Wild ($1,000).
Both candidates also received sizable in-kind contributions from the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, which picked up costs for both candidates' mailers. Through May 5, the state party had spotted Zrinski $33,409 and Cozze $14,916 for their mailers.
In addition, McClure and Stephen Barron, the county's director of fiscal affairs, each contributed $500 worth of automated calls for Zrinski's campaign.
Cozze and Zrinski haven't been afraid to go on the offensive.
During their only debate, Cozze attacked Zrinski as a political opportunist more interested in advancing her career — Zrinski has run for public office six times in the last nine years. Zrinski, meanwhile, called out Cozze for threatening to resign her then-position leading the county's election office weeks before the 2021 general election unless she was awarded a promised raise.
Giovanni, the Republican opponent, raised $7,450 so far this year.
The bulk of that amount, $3,000, has come from deep-pocketed donors, including developers Nat Hyman ($500) and Louis Pektor ($1,000) and Charles Baltic, an elected auditor in Upper Mount Bethel Township ($1,000).
Another $2,650 came from donors contributing $250 or less. John Goffredo, a fellow Republican on the county Board of Commissioners, contributed another $1,000 through his campaign.
