Panella outpacing Melvin in top-court fund-raising

HARRISBURG - Contributions from organized labor and trial lawyers helped give Democrat Jack Panella a big fund-raising advantage over Republican rival Joan Orie Melvin in the race for an open seat on Pennsylvania's highest court, according to a review of their latest campaign finance reports yesterday.

Panella, a Superior Court judge in Bethlehem, reported raising $1.17 million from the beginning of the year to the Sept. 14 end of the latest reporting period. That compares with $418,000 raised by Melvin, a Superior Court judge in Pittsburgh.

Among contributions to Panella were $100,000 from Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in Philadelphia and $50,000 from the Mid-Atlantic Laborers' Political League in Boston.

Both candidates benefited from the deep pockets of the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association. Its political action committee - the Committee for a Better Tomorrow - gave Panella $500,000 and contributed $100,000 to Melvin's campaign. - AP