Jay Jacobs files third complaint against Mangano campaign

Nassau Democratic chairman Jay Jacobs has filed a third complaint against Republican County Executive Edward Mangano's re-election campaign and the political committee headed by Mangano's chief deputy, Rob Walker, alleging campaign finance violations.

Jacobs, who has filed two similar complaints with the state Board of Elections and New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman, this week contended that Friends of Ed Mangano has accepted a total of $29,000 in contributions above legal limits from 11 corporations since January, according to new financial disclosure reports filed last month.

Jacobs also alleged in the complaint, signed by party lawyer Steven Schlesinger, that Mangano's committee failed to identify the recipients of $15,600 in reimbursements, listing only addresses associated with Walker and Mangano's chief spokesman, Brian Nevin.

And Jacobs again questioned payments from Walker's Hicksville Republican Committee to KKL Associates for consulting services. Jacobs said the payments are "believed to be highly suspicious in that they are directed to a residential apartment" rented by Walker's former special assistant.

Attorney John Ryan, who represents both Friends of Ed Mangano and the Hicksville committee, said Thursday he hadn't had a chance to fully analyze the new complaint. But he said, "I think there are a number of misstatements and mischaracterizations."

Nevin said, "This is more dirty politics and mudslinging by a Democratic boss who knows he can't win a race in Nassau County."

Ryan, Nevin and Walker have denied Jacob's past allegations -- though Ryan acknowledged that all political parties and candidates occasionally receive corporate contributions above the state's $5,000 limit. When that occurs, he said, "These monies will be refunded."

But Jacobs said Thursday, "When you continually do the same violations again and again, it shows either arrogance, sloppiness or blindness."

Jacobs said his suspicions were bolstered by subpoenas from Schneiderman to the Nassau Republican Committee and Friends of Ed Mangano for records related, in part, to prior complaints, including expenses for a MetLife skybox purchased by the committee last year.