Delco GOP seeks federal probe of Schneller candidacy

Delaware County Republicans on Wednesday formally asked federal election officials to investigate ties between the congressional campaign of Democrat Bryan Lentz and a third-party "spoiler" candidacy that Lentz supporters aided this summer.

Lentz campaign workers might have unlawfully failed to report work done and funds spent to help the third-party candidate, county GOP leader Andrew J. Reilly contended in a letter to the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

In particular, Reilly pointed to a $100 cash payment that a notary said she received for notarizing signatures on the candidate's petitions.

In the bitterly fought race to replace U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak (D., Pa.), it appears both major parties aim to use the third-party candidate, Jim Schneller, as a weapon.

Democrats helped Schneller - whose views include questioning President Obama's citizenship - in the hope that he would draw votes from the GOP nominee, former U.S. Attorney Patrick Meehan, in a close race.

Since Lentz conceded that he knew his volunteers were helping Schneller, Republicans have been using that admission to attack Lentz's character.

Schneller, 55, of Wayne, said he paid the notary and reported it to the FEC. His latest campaign finance report shows a lump payment of more than $1,400 that he said involved various costs, including that of notaries.

Lentz said last week that he knew his volunteers helped Schneller. But he said his paid campaign staff had no role in the effort.

"The Lentz campaign did not make a $100 cash payment to a notary," said campaign manager Kevin McTigue. "I don't know who made the payment; no paid Lentz staff was present at the 'notary party.' "

Reilly sent his letter on a day when Vice President Biden went to Radnor to stump for Lentz, a two-term state representative from Swarthmore. Reilly called the timing "pure coincidence."

Reilly's letter cited depositions taken as part of the Meehan campaign's previous unsuccessful challenge to Schneller's candidacy in state court. In one deposition, notary Kristen Kepics said she was asked to help with Schneller's petitions by a top Lentz volunteer, Colleen Guiney, Reilly said.

Kepics said under oath that someone - she wasn't sure who - paid her $100 in cash in an envelope for the work, according to Reilly, who also quoted Schneller as having denied under oath that he paid Kepics. Schneller disputed this Wednesday, saying that Reilly was quoting him out of context and that he had reported the notary expense.

Reilly asked the FEC to look into other possible unreported in-kind contributions and costs that he contended could have accompanied the Democrats' push to gather about 4,800 of the 8,000 signatures Schneller submitted to get on the ballot.

For his part, Schneller said he was tired of the dispute. "What does it have to do with jobs? The recession? The medical care?" he said. "It has nothing to do with anything."