Republican House candidate Jerry Leonard receives nearly $150,000 a year between his military pension and disability benefits, while his Democratic rival Gabe Amo quit his White House job in April. He lost a six-figure salary and has up to $15,000 in credit card debt.
This is according to financial statements each candidate submitted to the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year.
Federal law requires members of the U.S. House of Representatives and candidates whose campaigns have raised or spent more than $5,000 to share personal financial details by filing a public written financial disclosure with the Clerk of the House. It is mandatory to do so. The 2023 document, to be filed by May 15 or as soon as $5,000 in funding or disbursements is completed, includes financial statements up to the filing period and covers all of the 2022 calendar year. .
Leonard accepts disability benefits
Leonard, 58, was paid $91,400 last year at Warwick-based Bentley Builders LLC, where he has worked since 2020 as a federal construction project manager. But as of July 7 of this year, he earned just $22,800 from the same job before he quit his job to run for Congress.
Campaign manager Brandon Bell said he worked for Leonard at a company at Naval Base Newport.
“He and I only procured federal projects and saw them from start to finish, not in the private sector,” Bell said.
The Republican disclosure form also lists a $101,789.58 military pension from 30 years in the U.S. Marine Corps and $45,886.68 in disability benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
“Jerry is a disabled veteran,” Bell said. “I think this is the result of my entire 30-year combat career.”
Leonard declined to comment on the matter at a news conference Tuesday morning.
“It's personal,” he said.
As of July, Leonard had earned more than $1,000 in interest on his Navy Federal Money Market account, according to the report. House of Commons Financial Disclosure Report. The value of this account is between $100,001 and $250,000. He also listed another Navy federal checking account in the same amount range and a checking account with USAA between $1,001 and $15,000.
He also had retirement accounts ranging from $500,001 to $1 million through the Federal Employees and Military System.
Leonard has no debts listed on his financial disclosure form.
As of August 16th, Leonard's campaign reported $111,082.62 in cash on hand to the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Leonard boosted his campaign with $50,000 in personal loans, in addition to $40,284.13 from private donors.
Amo's mother has credit card debt.
Amo, 35, quit her $110,000-a-year job at the White House and gave up her main source of income to run for Congress.
His campaign declined to discuss or answer any questions about his finances, including his reported Bank of America credit card balance of $10,000 to $15,000. Submitted on May 23rd.
Mr. Amo reported earning $37,660 this year before leaving his position as special assistant to the president and deputy director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.
As of May 23, the Pawtucket native had between $1,001 and $15,000 in savings at Bank of America, and between $1,001 and $15,000 in another Bank of America checking account. Ta.
This does not include Vanguard Group Retirement Trusts ranging from $15,001 to $50,000, three Vanguard individual mutual funds (each ranging from $1,001 to $15,000), and five Fidelity Retirement Plan mutual funds. Investments Inc., with values ranging from $1,001 to $50,000.
Mr. Amo earned between $417 and $4,200 in interest through May 23 of this year based on various retirement accounts and other investments.
This article has been updated to include a quote from Jerry Leonard on disability pensions.
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