Attorney general’s office clears Pingie of any campaign finance reporting

irregularities

By MIKE SCHREIBER
Era Associate Editor

The state attorney general’s office has cleared McKean County Commissioner
candidate Al Pingie of any campaign finance reporting irregularities dating back
to the primary election.

Announced Wednesday, the news comes less than a week before the Nov. 6
general election in which Pingie will appear on the Republican ticket.

The finance reports were originally called into question in May. The attorney
general’s office took over the investigation into the matter after District Attorney
John Pavlock cited a conflict of interest in the case.

“After reviewing the evidence and the applicable law, the Office of Attorney
General has concluded that criminal charges are not warranted,” said a memo
dated Oct. 30 from the attorney general’s office to Pavlock.

Investigators added they are closing the office’s inquiry into the case, adding “no
criminal charges will be filed.”

When reached for comment Wednesday night, Pingie said when he previously
met with an AG investigator, they indicated at that time they believed the matter
was an honest mistake and would recommend the case be dropped.

“I feel that with the attorney general’s office doing the investigation, there should
be no doubt in anybody’s mind that I didn’t do anything intentionally,” Pingie said.
“I’m looking at this as a lesson to be learned and put it behind me.”

In the Pingie case, Bruce Holiday of Bradford challenged a handful of

contributions listed on Pingie’s campaign finance reports, which were filed before
the May 15 primary election. In a letter dated May 18 to Director of Elections
Judy Ordiway, Holiday wrote that Pingie received contributions from several
businesses, claiming such contributions are illegal.

Ordiway previously said a candidate can’t accept contributions from any

incorporated business. The total amount of contributions in question amounted to
$650; Pingie listed a total of $2,600 in contributions between Jan. 1 and April 30,
according to a copy of the campaign finance reports filed at the courthouse.
Pingie — who captured one of the Republican seats for commissioner in the
primary election — sent back checks to the businesses and sent them letters
apologizing for the error, noting he didn’t mean to show any profitable gain or
malicious intent.

A call seeking comment from Pavlock was not immediately returned as of

Wednesday night.

Ordiway said earlier in the day that she hadn’t received any official paperwork on
the case as of Wednesday afternoon, but noted it was her understanding the
AG’s office had rendered a decision in the case.

Meanwhile, there was no word on the status of the AG’s investigation into
Geoffrey Beck’s alleged campaign finance reporting irregularities.

Meanwhile, there was no word on the status of the AG’s investigation into
Geoffrey Beck’s alleged campaign finance reporting irregularities.

In that case, the county elections board had notified Beck he was in violation of
the campaign expense reporting law for failure to file a campaign expense report-
statement.

A call seeking comment from Kevin Harley of the AG’s press office was not
immediately returned.

In addition to Pingie, Port Allegany Mayor Joe DeMott claimed the other
Republican spot on the general election ballot. Also appearing will be Democrats
Clifford Lane, the current commissioner chairman, and Judy Church of
Smethport.

Beck, who ran as a Democrat, lost out on his chance to appear on the ballot this
fall.