Results tagged “campaignmoney”

Despite a mad dash at the deadline to hit the minimum in donations necessary to receive public matching funds, City Controller Bill Thompson fell just short in the latest cycle and will lose out on $1.5 million in public funds. Thompson scrambled to to find donors on the final day of eligibility—including making a donation from himself to the campaign—in order to hit the necessary $250,000 needed in order to receive six-to-one matching funds. But after a few donations are expected to be disqualified by the Campaign Finance Board, Thompson will miss out. Mayor Bloomberg, of course, has opted out of matching funds and has already spent over $36 million on his re-election bid. Dick Dadey, of the good government group Citizens Union, told the News, "If he doesn't qualify for public matching funds, his campaign is in trouble.For a major candidate to not qualify one month out from the primary sends a disturbing signal about the strength of his candidacy." In the race for public advocate, frontrunner Mark Green was the only one of the four major candidates to miss out on matching funds this cycle. The next opportunity for matching funds is August 20.

Incorrigible State Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada Jr. owes some $61,000 in fines to the city Campaign Finance Board for his failure to file legally-required disclosure documents when he ran for Bronx Borough President in 2001. Espada previously promised to pay his debt to society (part of it, anyway) on Monday. Today is now Wednesday, and they did not receive the money. When the Daily News dared pester him about it, Espada—presumably speaking through a cloud of cigar smoke while trimming his nose hair—had this to say: "They'll get their money." Espada also owes the state Board of Elections $10,309 in fines for failing to file routine financial disclosure reports. And there's 23 more disclosure reports the state board still wants from the Westchester Bronx representative. Blair Horner of the New York Public Interest Research Group calls Espada's behavior "mind-boggling... He should be operating at the highest standards." While we're at it, dogs should stop chasing squirrels, the subway should connect directly to LaGuardia, and donut ice cream sandwiches should be delivered to our offices at once.

The latest round of campaign finance numbers do not look good for Governor Paterson. In the first half of this year, Paterson has raised $2.3 million—less than half of what has been banked by Andrew Cuomo, who denies that he even has any plans to run next year. Cuomo has raised $5.1 million over the same span and $10.1 million total to Paterson's $5.4M. Potential attorney general opponents must be shaking in their boots! In an attempt to spin the numbers as less embarrassing for the incumbent governor, a source connected to governor cited his being stuck in Albany during the Senate crisis as costing him over $1 million in events he could not attend while on Gang of Four babysitting duty. But Camp Paterson sees big things in his future—namely, hosting an event for Democratic governors in Saratoga next month. The source told Politicker, "It helps his street cred." Because nothing says street like a formal affair in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Fancy that: State Senator Hiram Monserrate, Jesus-comparing, coup- and stalemate-causing Democrat from Queens, is using money donated to his campaign committee to pay off legal fees for his assault case. PolitickerNY reports that according to campaign filings, "Unions representing police and corrections officers contributed $2,450 to... Monserrate's campaign committee, which he in turn used to defend himself against felony assault charges stemming from" allegedly beating his girlfriend. While Monserrate denies the charges, he was indicted. Sen. Marty Golden (R-Brooklyn) said, "Sometimes elected officials have been known to use their campaign funds for legal matters because it's job-related. And then there are those that are arrested for criminal acts. He stabbed that woman in the face with a broken glass on his own time in his own apartment. It had nothing to do with government business. Anyone giving him money--especially law enforcement--for his defense should be appalled." Well, some of his fellow State Senators also gave him money! Monserrate had previously told PolitickerNY that "campaign committees routinely spend money on legal expenses that are related to the campaign, to the candidacy and to the candidate."