Normally an AG nominee would simply go to the usual funding sources – developers, contractors, financiers, engineers, attorneys, Marcellus Shale drillers, industries regulated by the state – all of those scores of individuals who derive huge fees and profits from public projects, exemptions from taxes, subsidies, and are not investigated for disregarding regulations and the law.
We experienced this in Lancaster with the bloated Convention Center which was rammed through despite overwhelming public protest. The project produced tens of millions of dollars of tax payer largess for sponsors and service providers, approved by Governor Ed Rendell against the wishes of the County Commissioners.
Furthermore, Kane has promised to investigate potential incompetence and misuse of public office such as occured with the long swept under the carpet alleged abuse of boys by Jerry Sandusky. Kane mayalso energize the languishing investigation of the alleged misuse of millions of dollars of Hershey School Foundation endowment by its trustees, which include prominent Republicans.
Is it any more likely that Democrat Governor Ed Rendell will be any more enthusiastic of a Kane candidacy than Republican Tom Corbett? (Rendell was a prominent backer of the candidacy of Patrick Murphy.)
Certainly Kane isn’t going to garner over a million dollars of contributions from the Marcellus Shale interests as did Corbett.
Most of the $2.5 million invested in Kane’s primary victory came from her family who are in the trucking and warehouse businesses. We understand that funding the primary was a one time shot. So Kane will need to raise millions from other sources for the general election in November.
Who is likely to write a check for $10,000, let alone $25,000 or $100,000 to a prospective AG who will cut them no slack, do them no favors, overlook no wrong doings?
So Kathleen Kane will either have to compromise her ethical standards (which we do not expect her to do) or raise her funds from the general public, in amounts of $10, $25 and $100, with a few altruistic individuals contributing much larger amounts.
It won’t be easy.
