Local Contributors, Voters Aren’t Buying Into Bennett

A recent study of campaign finance reports filed by Siobhan “Sam” Bennett’s Congressional campaign show that an amazing 78% of the itemized contributions she has received originate from contributors outside of the Lehigh Valley-centered district.  Amazingly, nearly 30% of her itemized contributions have been made by people who do not even live in Pennsylvania.

An itemized contribution is a contribution made by an individual contributor that exceeds $200.  To date, Bennett has reported receiving $177,823 in itemized contributions.  $138,831 came from people living outside of the 15th District.  $51,285 came from contributors living outside of the state.  The figures do not even include PAC contributions.

“To paraphrase Winston Churchill, never before have so few people from a community, given so little support to a candidate with so many ethical questions surrounding her,” said Shawn Millan, campaign manager for Congressman Charlie Dent.

Allentown Democratic voters have twice voted to defeat Bennett in her mayoral campaigns.  Many still remember the public spectacle she made of herself after the first loss. They know that contrary to her campaign claims, she left the Mayfair Festival saddled with debt. Most tellingly, they know that she used a local non-profit organization, Properties of Merit, to enrich herself by improperly paying herself a hugely inflated salary of $110,000 a year at taxpayer expense.

Amazingly, according to a recent news report, Bennett views her lack of support as a “great sign.” “Folks out of District see the viability here,” said Bennett.

Apparently, Democrats in the District don’t see things the same way.  On Primary Election Day, nearly 40,000 Democrats in Lehigh and Northampton counties, who voted in the Presidential race, didn’t bother to vote for Bennett. An amazing 36% of Democrat voters overlooked or ignored her candidacy.

“These numbers show that Siobhan Bennett is utterly disconnected from the people of our community,” Millan noted. “Is it any wonder that those who know her best are least likely to support her candidacy?” asked Millan.