County campaign finance reports released
WARREN — With election day less than a week away, pre-general election campaign finance reports filed with the Trumbull County Board of Elections reveal spending details across multiple races.
The Friends of Natasha Natale, a group supporting incumbent Republican Warren Municipal Judge Natasha K. Natale in her race against challenger Irene Makridis, a defense attorney with 44 years of legal experience, reported $50,000 carried over from the last report.
That $50,000 also counted as an outstanding loan owed by the committee, as Natale had given the committee the money on Dec. 26. Natale raised $43,539 in total monetary donations, bringing the total available funds to $93,539. She reported $24,512 in expenditures.
Advertising made up the bulk of Natale’s expenditures, with one $4,544 transaction going to H&F Strategies LLC, a full-service digital consulting firm based in Ohio, founded by Thomas Hern and State Rep. Tex Fischer (R-Boardman), for campaign consulting, marketing materials and a banner.
Seven more $1,500 expenditures to the firm throughout the pre-general election period were reported, for campaign consulting purposes.
Finance reports from Makridis’s campaign were not available as of Tuesday afternoon.
TRUMBULL COUNTY CHILDREN SERVICES
The 2-mill tax levy for the Trumbull County Children Services makes up 37% of the agency’s funding, and the need for its renewal is being made known through its efforts.
The Children Services Citizens Committee reported a $56,546 carryover from its last report and $16,575 in total monetary contributions — bringing the total funds available to $73,121. The group reported $23,506 in expenditures.
The committee gave Youngstown-based marketing agency Vantell Media Group $9,995 for television airtime for commercials and $1,259 for yard signs.
