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By KRISTEN JOHNSON Special to the OBSERVER Where and how a candidate spends his money can be very telling, especially in local races. Campaign finance reports obtained from the state Board of Elections show that Chuck Cornell, a county legislator and candidate for Chautauqua County executive, has raised just $38,883 since Jan. 1, 2008. In sharp contrast, Greg Edwards, the incumbent executive, has $89,764 in his war chest. He has spent $61,495 since Jan. 1, 2008, while Cornell has spent $33,693. Last month, Edwards was sharply criticized by Gene Aversa, president and owner of Hanson Sign Companies in Falconer, for spending more than $13,600 on campaign signs with a Muncie, Ind. business. Aversa has, both individually and through his company, given $6,000 to Friends of Chuck Cornell and has openly supported Cornell’s campaign. But Cornell, who has called economic development the centerpiece of his campaign and has advocated for the local expenditure of candidate money, has himself spent thousands of dollars with businesses outside of Chautauqua County for the production of campaign literature. Financial disclosure reports obtained from the state Board of Elections show Cornell spent $3,176 with Rochester-based Phoenix Graphics Inc. on three different occasions in May, July and October. In mid-October, he spent $7,589 with Buffalo-based Zenger Group. But he has also spent $3,414 with Quick Solutions for the production of campaign literature. That company is located in downtown Jamestown. Asked about the out-of-county expenses, Cornell said his campaign ‘‘does our best to buy locally.’’ ‘‘We’ve used local companies for a lot of our printing needs,’’ he said. ‘‘I think we’ve done a good job of spending most of our money locally. When we have gone out of the county, we’ve spent our money in Erie County or, at least, Western New York. And some of that money has gone toward postage costs as opposed to printing costs, so it’s not all money that has gone to an out-of-area business.’’ In addition to spending about $4,600 on commercials run on radio stations WDOE and WJTN — expenses that are clearly outlined in Cornell’s report — he has also spent money on a commercial that is running on Time Warner Cable. But that expense is not listed in any of Cornell’s expense disclosure reports — something he has called a ‘‘mistake in processing.’’ ‘‘We’ve only been running that commercial since Wednesday or Thursday of last week,’’ he said. ‘‘We did write them a check for $1,800. I believe the check was not processed until after then 11-Day Pre-General financial disclosure report was generated, so that’s why it hasn’t shown up as an itemized expense yet.’’ In addition to regular campaign expenditures, Edwards has spent thousands of dollars making contributions to various organizations. For example, he has through his campaign contributed $50 to Alex’s Lemonade Stand, $25 to the American Cancer Society, $100 to the Boys and Girls Club of Jamestown, $80 to the Chautauqua County Republican Committee, $50 to the Committee to Elect Dave Foley and $100 to Community Helping Hands. He has also given money to organizations such as Convoy of Hope in Westfield, the Cornell Cooperative Extension, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association, the National Rifle Association, and several local Republican Party organizations. Campaign money has also gone to the family of injured Jamestown Marine John Stanz and to the McKinnon family, who lost two children in a Fredonia fire earlier this year. ‘‘When I see a worthy cause I’m able to assist with, I do it,’’ Edwards said. ‘‘That is the case with donations I have made to the Stanz family and to the McKinnon family. I also gave money to the family of Linda Miktuk to help cover the cost of her daughter’s travel to Girls’ State. As far as Community Helping Hands goes, they are a wonderful faith-based organization in our county and it was my pleasure to assist them.’’ Edwards donated money to Alex’s Lemonade Stand — a cause he said he ‘‘really believes in’’ — to assist the family of Ryan Malarkey, a Jamestown six-year-old who has suffered from a rare form of cancer since he was two. Malarkey’s lemonade stand was present at a rally Edwards held to raise money. ‘‘We put up his stand because he was going for some tests and couldn’t be there himself,’’ Edwards said. ‘‘I made a contribution to him. That is also the case with Convoy of Hope. They joined me at a rally and assisted me with putting it on. As a result, I gave them a contribution. On both occasions, I was happy to combine my events with theirs. They’re both great causes.’’

 

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