The state House Republican Campaign Committee has been "in-kind" to candidate Jack Kopen, according to the latest campaign finance report filed at the Mercer County Courthouse.

On Oct. 19, the party committee made $168,027 in in-kind contributions to Kopen, according to the report. The contribution came in four installments -- $100,000 and $62,860 for respective "media" advertising efforts, $3,500 for polling, and $1,667 for mailings.

The latest report includes financial activity during a five-week span that ended Oct. 23. The campaign finance reports were due by legislative candidates Friday.

Kopen, a Hermitage Republican, is challenging incumbent Democrat state Rep. Michael C. Gruitza, also of Hermitage.

On Oct. 18, state Republican officials said they would spend up to $200,000 on the Shenango Valley district race. They said the money would enable people "to see and hear the story of Mr. Kopen’s credentials" and "the shortcomings of Mr. Gruitza."

The next day the party committee delivered a bulk of their promise.

The money was not deposited into Kopen’s campaign coffers. In-kind contributions are paid or given in goods or services and are not included a candidate’s campaign fund-raising totals.

During the five-week reporting period, Kopen raised $21,790. Less than 10 percent of that amount came from political committees. Kopen spent $9,600 during the period and has $12,947 on hand.