State Representative Campaign, Political Action Committee Correct Campaign Finance Issues

A local candidate for state representative filed updated campaign finance paperwork after discrepancies were reported to state authorities earlier this summer.

Paperwork for Gina Kiley, Democratic candidate for the 142nd State House District, and community political organization Middletown United, was not filed correctly and violated state campaign finance law. Since questioning from the state, members of the public and reporters, the violations have been corrected and noted through finance report amendments submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of State.

Kiley, who lives in Middletown’s Levittown section and works as a lawyer, appears to not have filed paperwork needed to accept donations for her campaign until after the primary election. According to records from the Pennsylvania Department of State, Kiley’s campaign did not receive approval for the Friends of Gina Kiley fundraising committee until July 10, which is weeks after her Democratic primary election win over former Neshaminy School Board President Ritchie Webb. A state official said approval usually takes only days and not weeks.

Leading up to the May primary election, community political organization Middletown United raised and spent thousands on behalf of Kiley’s campaign. Even after the issue was brought to light in a media report, it appears Middletown United continued to collect money for Kiley’s campaign. The problem: Middletown United was registered with Bucks County and could only raise funds for municipal candidates but not state legislative races. According to Department of State records, Middletown United did not register with the state until the middle of August. Department spokesman Ron Ruman said the group would have been unable to contribute to state legislative campaigns prior to being registered with the department.

Ruman told LevittownNow.com recently that state law requires all committees that expect to raise more than $250 to register. He added candidates cannot collect money through municipal committees. The registration information requires committees to list their top officials and file reports with the Department of State. Those reports are made available to the public.

An April 5 “campaign kickoff” fundraiser at the Middletown Country Club, which records show raised close to $4,000 for Middletown United, was intended to benefit Kiley’s campaign, according to a poster for the event. The poster asks attendees to write check payable to “Middletown United.”

The event wasn’t the only thing Middletown United paid for, according to official records. The Democratic group’s campaign finance report filed in Doylestown shows it purchased “4 x 4 Signs; Kiley” for $773.80 on April 24.

While researching Kiley’s campaign filings, a source connected to Lower Bucks County politics provided LevittownNow.com with black and white images appearing to show a “4 x4” Kiley sign that states, “Paid for by Middletown United.”

The signs, according to Ruman, would be in violation of state election regulations.

Leading up to the primary, the Bucks County Courier Times ran an article outlining Middletown United’s efforts on behalf of Kiley. Middletown Democratic Party chairman Harry Arnold told the newspaper he was sure the issue was an “oversight.” The newspaper article by reporter Michael Macagnone states Arnold said he would ” check on the paperwork and get back to a reporter, Arnold didn’t return follow-up calls for comment.”

Following the primary, Kiley appears to have been collecting funding through Middletown United.

A June 10 post on Kiley’s campaign Facebook page urges those who like the page to donate via a Paypal account that appears to be registered to Middletown United.

The donation push would seem to also violate the state law. The Department of State website confirms Kiley’s campaign was not able to collect monetary donations until July 10, which is when the Friends of Gina Kiley committee was approved.

A letter obtained through a source shows a complaint about the issue was filed with the state.

Levittown resident Douglas Suessegger, who previously ran for Neshaminy School Board, is listed as the current chairman of the Friends of Gina Kiley committee. He told LevittownNow.com in August he was new to the campaign and was not able to provide information about finances.

Ruman said he couldn’t comment on whether Kiley’s campaign was under review for violating campaign finance rules but said the local district attorney or state attorney general are tasked with investigating such claims. Bucks County District Attorney David Heckler said in late August that he was not aware of any investigation into Kiley’s campaign and a call to the Office of the Pennsylvania Attorney General was not returned.

Documents filed by the Kiley campaign in the summer said she received only a $262.90 in-kind donation from herself. Amended paperwork was filed recently and shows the Middletown United contribution to the campaign.

Middletown United official Robert McMonagle recently chalked up the situation to some confusion between him and the state. He said Kiley was not involved in the discrepancies.

McMonagle and the Kiley campaign provided LevittownNow.com with documents that show Kiley responded to a July 23 letter from state officials asking for clarification on issues surrounding the campaign. Kiley responded to the state’s questions and the state replied by informing the campaign on the proper procedures.

The group registered with the state on August 18 and filed updates to its campaign finance reports. The updated report show the funds raised through Middletown United.

State officials said in August that if the discrepancies were corrected, as they appear to be, the matter would likely be dropped unless county or state prosecutors deemed further investigation necessary.

According to documents, Middletown United had to pay several hundred dollars in “late fees.” Kiley said her campaign was not punished by state officials and continues to move forward.

“My campaign is progressing nicely and voters are responding positively to my positions on the issues facing Pennsylvania. I am busy door knocking every opportunity I can, meeting voters and listening to their concerns,” Kiley said. She added that she is continuing to “build grass roots support throughout the district by talking about real issues affecting Pennsylvanians.”

Kiley’s opponent, incumbent Republican Frank Farry, said he is continuing to focus on the upcoming election and working for district residents.