Network connected in Lehigh County
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Network business activity, and political involvement, aren't isolated to this corner of the state.
In 2005, former Bethlehem Mayor Don Cunningham ran for executive of Lehigh County, north of Philadelphia, getting thousands of dollars from executives at CLT Efficient Technologies Group, a firm co-founded by Charles R. Zappala.
Mr. Zappala paid $652.50 to cater a September 2005 reception for Mr. Cunningham, and in that week his campaign logged checks totaling $3,000 from Troy Geanopulos, $5,000 from Louis Ruscitto, and $5,000 from Mr. Zappala and members of his household, among other donations, according to records downloaded from the Pennsylvania Department of State Web site. Mr. Zappala, Mr. Geanopulos and Mr. Ruscitto were then partners in Carnegie-based CLT, which specialized in improving the energy efficiency of government buildings.
In May 2008, the CLT ownership team swung behind the reelection campaign of Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan. CLT accountant R. Andrew Why put up $1,239 for a fundraising dinner and wrote a campaign contribution check of $3,500. Mr. Zappala, Mr. Geanopulos and Mr. Ruscitto contributed a total of $1,000, according to state records.
"John Callahan has been a friend of mine for a very, very long time," said Mr. Why, in a recent interview. "He is a friend and an outstanding person, a man of outstanding moral character, and values, and fiscal responsibility that you don't always see in an elected official."
During the period, CLT was successfully marketing its services to Bethlehem and Lehigh County.
In 2006, Bethlehem wanted to replace old street lights with more efficient ones, approached three energy savings firms for proposals, and picked CLT based on what Public Works Director Michael Alkhal described as "experience, cost, and what the firms were willing to guarantee in terms of energy savings." CLT's contract paid $379,307, and the city estimated that the investment would pay for itself through electricity bill savings in six years.
First Published September 13, 2010 12:00 am
