7th S.D.: Jack Martins hasn't paid rent on campaign HQ

Mineola Mayor Jack Martins, the GOP candidate challenging state Sen. Craig Johnson (D-Port Washington), has not paid rent on his campaign headquarters nor declared the receipt of the space as an in-kind contribution, campaign finance reports show. 

What makes this more interesting than your typical campaign finance reporting blunder is the headquarters, at 212 E. Jericho Turnpike, is owned by Avelino and Maria DeSousa of Roslyn Heights. The DeSousas have been Martins supporters in the past, with Avelino giving the maximum $4,600 and Maria $400 to his 2008 failed congressional campaign.

Then in 2009, the Mineola village board, which Martins headed, awarded the DeSousas an $8,500 tax cert refund for their property at 190 E. Jericho Turnpike.

Martins campaign spokesman Umberto Mignardi did not take kindly to our inquiry about the headquarters.

"Let me be honest with you," he began. "The stuff that Rich Azzopardi is feeding you is garbage. This is another example. Here's your only statement: This is more of Rich Azzopardi's garbage. It is meant specifically to distract voters from the issues, which are taxes, job creation and the numerous problems facing the finances of New York State, which Craig Johnson has been specifically responsible for."

Azzopardi, of course, is Johnson's spokesman.

Mignardi was just getting warmed up. We asked him again if he could reconcile why the Martins campaign hasn't reported paying rent on the headquarters.

"I would say that if you feel satisfied that you've done your research, then publish it," he said. "I specifically do not know about that."

Our attempts to reach the DeSousas were unsuccessful, though Mignardi said Martins voted for the DeSousas' property tax refund "strictly on its merits." He then made it clear he was not happy to be answering our questions.

"I find it quite aggravating that I have to keep looking things up for you people," he said. "I got to be honest with you, a campaign communications person at some point takes charge and tells you this is a bunch of garbage."

We asked if that meant he would not find out about the campaign headquarters for us.

"I don’t think I'm going to perpetuate this story by telling you," he said. "This is my point to you: If you think this story has legs and you're onto something, by all means pursue it. The reality is reporters are buying into Rich Azzopardi’s nonsense. This is meant to distract the voters from the issues at hands."

Mignardi, who stressed that he is an unpaid volunteer, said the campaign experience has soured him on the press.

"The reality is there are serious issues facing New York and the people involved who are helping Jack really do give a damn," he said. "I have embraced the press my whole life, and I'm finding Jack’s not getting a fair shake. If Jack did or didn’t pay rent, how does this affect the state of New York?"

Mignardi ultimately agreed to look into the issue for us. He promised to have Martins call us. He's yet to call.

The aforementioned Azzopardi gleefully sent over this statement: "Jack Martins behaves as if there is a set of rules for him and a set of rules for everyone else. No matter how much lip service his cynical campaign gives to reforming Albany, he can't escape one simple truth: If Jack Martins can't be trusted to follow the rules while running for office, how can he expect anyone to trust him enough to represent us?"