Contributions to Westmoreland campaigns modest, frequent
Share with others:
Executives at consulting firm Resource Development and Management write modest, but numerous, campaign checks. The most frequent recipients are the politicians who appoint the board of the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County, which RDM runs.
"I've given to candidates of all sides. I've given to as many Rs as I have Ds, as many locals as I have statewide," said RDM President Joseph M. Hohman. "Are we major players? Absolutely not."
Mr. Hohman said he doesn't host political fundraisers, but does attend them, in part because they are a good place to meet others in his industry. "In small business, if you're going to be successful, you have to build relationships, and you have to network," he said.
RDM Executive Vice President James J. Dodaro was Gov. Ed Rendell's southwest regional campaign chairman during the 2002 election, but has since ceased political fundraising.
Since 2002, former Westmoreland County Commissioner Thomas Ceraso's campaign coffers received 13 checks from Mr. Hohman, 13 checks from RDM Chief Financial Officer Jacob N. Skezas, and 15 checks from RDM Vice President Christopher H. Kerr -- none in an amount greater than $300, according to state records. Those contributions totaled $8,375.
Contributions by RDM executives to Mr. Ceraso's campaign often came at or around the same time as donations to the same campaigns by Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County board members. Those board members are appointed by the commissioners, and that authority has, since 1992, been managed by RDM. Last year the authority paid RDM $825,000 to provide upper management.
Mr. Ceraso said the contributions stemmed from his background as a 14-year employee at the authority, during which he become a serviceman and union vice president prior to entering politics. In April, the authority hired him to serve as its assistant manager, prompting his resignation from the county commission.
Thus Mr. Ceraso, who appointed the board that oversaw the firm whose executives contributed to his campaign, was hired by the authority to work directly under the firm's supervision. "It is kind of a full circle kind of thing," he said recently.
The remaining veteran Democrat on the Westmoreland County Commission, Tom Balya, originally opposed the authority's entry into a long-term contract with RDM. He later dropped his opposition.
Mr. Balya's campaign account got 12 contributions totaling $2,150 from Mr. Kerr, 15 contributions for $2,350 from Mr. Skezas, 20 contributions for $3,275 from Mr. Hohman, and eight contributions for $1,750 from Mr. Dodaro since 2002, according to state records.
First Published September 14, 2010 12:00 am
