Mike Krancer is known as the rich guy on the campaign trail.
He is a great-nephew of the late philanthropist Walter Annenberg and is relying heavily on family money - more than $1 million - to finance his campaign for a seat on Pennsylvania's highest court.
Krancer, a Republican, said his family's role had helped him avoid the fund-raising pressures faced by other candidates whose campaigns have received contributions from special-interest groups.
"I got zero and I didn't want any," said Krancer, 49, who was a judge on the state Environmental Hearing Board from 1999 until earlier this year after 17 years as a lawyer at two big Center City firms.
A lifelong resident of Montgomery County, Krancer lives with his family in Bryn Mawr, and those who know him say he has wide and eclectic interests.
He is a Civil War buff, is interested in U.S. naval and biblical history, and is studying for a master's degree in theology at Villanova University. He tutors children in Germantown, taught himself to read Greek to study the New Testament, and has four copies of the Federalist Papers at home.
"He's one of the smartest people I've ever met," said Harrisburg lawyer Donald L. Carmelite, who was a law clerk for Krancer at the environmental board and who has remained friendly with him.
Carmelite said Krancer was not showy about his wealth.
"If you didn't see what his house looked like, you wouldn't know he was raised on the Main Line," Carmelite said. "You would just think this is an average-Joe kind of guy."
According to campaign-finance reports, family contributions make up about 70 percent of the $1.3 million his campaign has raised in the closely contested race - which already has broken the fund-raising record for Pennsylvania Supreme Court contests.
The other candidates for two seats on the court are three state Superior Court judges: Republican Maureen Lally-Green of Butler County and Democrats Seamus P. McCaffery of Philadelphia and Debra Todd of Butler County.
Krancer predicted that the other candidates, if elected, would wind up with contributors who have cases in the courts - and said he was glad he would not be in that uncomfortable position.
"My family and friends are the ones who first and foremost support me. Most Pennsylvanians are family people, and they understand family support," said Krancer, whose campaign also has received donations from lawyers and business people.
