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Tim Bishop's daughter rebuked for campaign earnings

BY RICK BRAND | rick.brand@newsday.com

8:33 PM EDT, March 27, 2008

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Molly Bishop has made nearly $270,000 since 2002 fundraising for her father, Rep. Timothy Bishop, and has broadened her clientele since 2006 and earned $164,000 working for other local Democrats, according to state and federal records.

Bishop, 29, who started working as a part-time fundraiser in her father's first campaign in 2002, billed Brookhaven Supervisor Brian Foley's campaign $118,000 and the Brookhaven Democratic Party $35,000 and has worked for a half dozen other local candidates, according to reports filed with the State Board of Elections and the Federal Election Commission.

Bishop's daughter's fundraising work was assailed yesterday in a conservative blog, Majority Accountability Project, run by two former GOP congressional staffers.

While acknowledging that none of Molly Bishop's activities are illegal, the blog charged that the congressman has used his daughter even though he already has a Washington fundraiser and "has profited from her father's political base" in obtaining local clients.

Even with two consultants and a Democratic majority, the project's Michael Brady said, Bishop raised only $610,000 last year -- almost $100,000 less than the year before. "I don't think he's getting his money's worth," he said.

Tim Bishop criticized the project's report as skewed, saying it made "the worst possible conclusions" based on many inaccuracies. He said his daughter has helped him raise $5.7 million over the past five years, and helped Brookhaven Democrats raise $2.2 million.

He also said the blog is misleading by claiming his daughter uses the same address for her consulting work as her father's office. He said his daughter rents her separate office in the same building in Coram.

"I'm incredibly proud of my daughter. She has a proven track record and rarely even uses her last name," Bishop said. "She's carved a career out for herself totally on her own because people realize how good she is."

Lee Zeldin, Bishop's likely GOP opponent this fall, said he did not know enough about the details of Molly Bishop's work to take a position. However, he said that "When we elect someone to office, we are not doing it to make them and their families wealthy. Elected officials' most important purpose is to work for the common good."

But Marsha Laufer, Brookhaven Democratic chairwoman, defended her fundraising consultant, saying Molly Bishop is "extraordinarily competent" and a "consummate professional" who is careful "not to cross the line" in her work.

Bishop, said that her experience in fundraising dates back to college when she helped run Southampton College's "All for the Sea" concerts each summer.

She also said the money she makes from local clients is less than her billings because she fronts costs such as catering and golf course fees; for instance, she said she has netted about $70,000 of the $118,000 she has billed to Foley. She said her work for several local candidates, including Brookhaven Town Board member Connie Kepert, former town board candidate Bill Schilling and Southampton Democrats has been done gratis except for expenses.

The consultant said her local business has grown largely because more Democrats are winning in Suffolk. "For the first time, Democrats need fundraising. I may take some people by surprise, saying 'Who's that kid?' But I think I've shown I know about I'm doing."

Bishop said there is little overlap between those who contribute to her father and local candidates, and that she rarely uses her last name because it tends to prolong conversations and slow her fundraising.