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WILKES-BARRE — A city contractor said he never gave a $2,500 donation to the Friends of Tony George, contrary to a contribution listed on campaign finance forms that appears to bear his name and business.
Bob Frankelli, a construction manager at Franchelli Enterprises in Wilkes-Barre, said Tuesday that he wrote a $100 check to George’s mayoral campaign on April 7 after a member of his committee called asking for a donation.
But that was it.
“That’s the only thing he ever got from me. Period,” Frankelli said.
While Franchelli Enterprises has contracted with the city on several projects throughout the years, Frankelli, 72, said he didn’t have much of a relationship with George except “to wave at him when I go by.”
Frankelli, from Bear Creek, said he also donated $100 to George Brown, who George defeated in the May 19 primary election by 151 votes.
On George’s campaign finance forms for the period of May 5 to June 8, a $2,500 donation is listed from “Bob Francella” of Shickshinny with “Fraculla Enterprises” as the employer name. The date is listed as “5/17/1984.”
Frankelli said he wasn’t sure what to make of the similarities but was certain he didn’t donate $2,500 to George.
He also wasn’t aware of any area businesses sharing a name similar to his.
“I’m a little upset about it, but I don’t have anything to hide so I’m not concerned,” he said. “I’m not the one who screwed up.”
Anonymous materials surfacing late last week alleging George failed to properly report the contribution during the May 5 through May 19 24-hour daily reporting period in which all donations above $500 must be reported to the county election board in writing.
The materials allege George followed the requirements on May 11 by reporting three donations totaling $2,000 but failed to follow suit with the $2,500 donation.
A call to George’s campaign treasurer, Jerry Altavilla, was not returned Tuesday. Multiple calls to George and his campaign officials have not been returned since Friday.
The materials mark the second time an unknown source targeted George since he announced a bid for mayor.
A day before the primary election, city residents received two mailers claiming George had ties to the Nation of Islam and was running a “fraudulent” campaign.
Luzerne County Board of Elections Solicitor Mike Butera said Monday he will grant George a week to provide amended forms which clarify “obvious mistakes.”
Butera said the forms had numerous clerical and organization errors but he was particularly concerned with “red flags” surrounding the $2,500 donation.
Frankelli said he has not been contacted by George, members of his campaign committee, or investigators regarding the forms.
“If somebody calls me, I’m here,” he said. “I’m not reaching out to anybody. Somebody is doing their investigation and wants to do it right, I shouldn’t be calling them. They should be calling me.”