When new Essex Sheriff Kevin Coppinger publicly announced William Gerke as his top deputy last month, he heralded Gerke’s time as a top state security official in Vermont, his work as a U.S. marshal and his decades in law enforcement.

Two facts that went undisclosed in the press release and various media reports: Gerke is also Coppinger’s brother-in-law and a campaign donor.

In a statewide political culture highly sensitive to even whiffs of patronage, Coppinger admits Gerke’s hiring could open him up to scrutiny. But as he begins his first term, he stressed he’s committed to transparency and said he called the state Ethics Commission after the election, which he said cleared the hire.

The former Lynn police chief also filed a conflict of interest disclosure with the agency five days after publicly announcing Gerke’s position, writing that he and Gerke “are married to sisters.” Gerke, a high school and college classmate, introduced Coppinger to his wife, he said.

“I did look at a few other candidates, all fine candidates, and I kept coming back to Bill Gerke,” Coppinger said by phone Friday, his second day in office. “His training and his experience, the fact that I’ve known him for 40 years. My goal was to pick the best person for the job.

“I know some people are going to disagree with that. That’s why I called the Ethics Commission,” he added. “There’s nothing to hide here, and Bill’s reputation is spectacular.”

Gerke spent the past three years as director of security for the Vermont court system, during which he also was a part-time deputy at a local sheriff’s department, according to a resume Coppinger provided. Gerke is making $148,000, or roughly double the $76,000 he was making with the Vermont court system. Gerke spent the bulk of his career with the U.S. Marshals Service as the chief deputy in Burlington, Vt., where he worked for 25 years after a stint in Boston in the 1980s.

Now back in his native Swampscott, Gerke had made several donations to Coppinger during his campaign, totaling $650. It’s notable, given that as a candidate, Coppinger vowed not to take donations from current Essex Sheriff’s Office employees or their families. The move, he said, was because he doesn’t “want people buying jobs.”

He said he now won’t accept donations from Gerke or any other of his workers, adding that his brother-in-law wasn’t on his “radar screen” for a job while he campaigned.

“If someone wants to criticize me, they could on that one,” Coppinger said. “I was running a campaign to win the campaign. Like anyone else, (he) chose to donate to my campaign.”

Coppinger reiterated that his goal is to be as transparent as possible.

When the Herald called him about his connection to Gerke on Friday, the sheriff called back within the hour.

“I’ll answer any questions you have,” Coppinger said.

A share of the market

Gov. Charlie Baker’s $3 million fundraising haul in 2016, not surprisingly, topped every other candidate and office holder in the state. And by a mile — or actually a million; runner-up Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh raised a little more than $2 million, according to state campaign finance records.

But the Republican’s fundraising pace could use even more context. As of yesterday, active campaign accounts reported raising a total of $27.5 million last year. That means for every $10 raised statewide, $1 went to Baker.

Combine that with the $1.4 million Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito reported raising, and the likely 2018 Republican ticket accounted for more than 15 percent of donations, or in other words, $1 of every $6 raised.

That share, however, could likely shrink come later this month. State lawmakers have to file their year-end reports by Jan. 20, which would capture the activity between Oct. 22 and New Year’s Eve. But given the vast majority faced no, or little competition, in the general election on Nov. 8, the amounts will likely pale in comparison to what they had already raised collectively.

Hall pass

Former Red Sox pitcher and (aspiring?) politico Curt Schilling said last week that he thinks Hall of Fame voters are holding his conservative views against him in not putting him in Cooperstown.

Top Democrats/sports fans aren’t buying it.

“I doubt baseball writers are worried about political feelings,” said Mayor Walsh, who lavished praise on Schilling — the pitcher that is. “He certainly was one of the premiere playoff players ever … I’d certainly love to see him in the Hall of Fame. I’d love to see Roger Clemens in the Hall of Fame.”

Speaker of the House Robert A. DeLeo, one of the most avid baseball fans in the State House, took a dimmer view of Schilling, politics aside.

“Personally, from a baseball perspective, I question whether he’s worthy of the Hall,” DeLeo said. “When the subject of Cooperstown comes up, I think of giants, such as Cy Young, Sandy Koufax and Pedro Martinez. Schilling is not at that level.”

State House reporter Matt Stout can be reached at matthew.stout@boston herald.com.