Loans Boost Campaign Funds for County Executive Candidates

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Both Democratic candidates for Allegheny County executive are using loans to bolster their campaign funds, according to campaign finance reports filed yesterday.

County Council President Rich Fitzgerald loaned $500,000 of his own money to his campaign, nearly two-thirds of the cash on hand, campaign documents state. His only declared opponent in the May primary, Controller Mark Patrick Flaherty, got nearly $200,000 in loans from donors including other Flahertys and a Steelers executive, totaling nearly 40 percent of his money.

"It appears neither of them are really prepared for this race," said Jerry Shuster, professor of political communications at the University …