Islip: Montano raises a stir over stalled reports

Former Suffolk Legis. Ricardo Montano, who is leading an insurgent ticket in an Islip Democratic primary, is lashing out at both the town and Suffolk Democratic organizations for failing to file reports showing their financial help for his foe for supervisor, Thomas Licari.

Montano said that neither the town or county committees have filed 11-day pre-election campaign finance filings as required by law. The reports were due Sept. 1.

"We have no indication of who has contributed, what amount has been spent, whether the contributions exceed the limitations," said Montano in his letter to Risa Sugarman, the state Board of Elections' top watchdog. "Isn't that the purpose of campaign finance reporting requirements? We have complained about the lack of compliance before, but it continues. I trust you will look into this immediately."

An aide to Sugarman wrote back: "This office treats all allegations as a serious matter. I can assure you that this will receive the appropriate attention."

The Montano camp on Monday sent a formal request for Suffolk District Attorney Thomas Spota to investigate what it maintains are fraudulent signatures collected by Legis. Monica Martinez in her bid for the Democratic ballot line. Martinez later withdrew as the Democratic candidate to avoid a court fight, but is still running on the Independence and Working Families Party lines.