Roster of political donors includes rich, famous
Ivanka Trump poses on the red carpet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Gala. (May 7, 2007) Credit: Newsday / Ari Mintz
ALBANY - From mayors and models to captains of industry and college presidents, well-known residents are donating to the candidates for governor and other statewide offices, records show.
Andrew Cuomo, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, received $5,000 from Ivanka Trump, daughter of real estate mogul Donald Trump, and $1,000 from former New York City Mayor Edward Koch, whose 1982 bid for the Executive Mansion was thwarted by Cuomo's father, Mario.
The contributions were part of $3.4 million raised by Andrew Cuomo since mid-July. Other notable donations were $10,000 each from Rochester grocery executive Daniel Wegman and Donald J. Deutsch, the Manhattan advertising executive and former CNBC talk show host.
Last week Cuomo reported having $19.9 million in his campaign war chest. His gubernatorial rival, Republican businessman Carl Paladino, reported having $209,407, after spending some $3 million to win the Sept. 14 GOP primary against former Rep. Rick Lazio of Brightwaters.
Experts weren't surprised that the campaigns, particularly those for governor, have attracted the interest of influential people and groups. "Famous people have always given money," said Blair Horner of the New York Public Interest Research Group, which monitors campaign finance. "But what's different about them is they usually give money based on a political point of view . . . Celebrities are drawn to candidates by personal conviction."
Paladino, a millionaire, hasn't garnered the same high-profile support as Cuomo. But since his stunning primary victory, he has raised $274,368, much of it from beyond his native Buffalo. Tea party supporters from more than two dozen states contributed small sums in the last days of September.
Because Paladino waged a primary for the nomination, state law dictates that he can receive up to $55,900 from individuals for the primary and general elections combined, experts said Monday. Cuomo, who didn't face a primary, can get only $37,800.
So, Cuomo refunded $1.4 million to 135 contributors, primarily in July. They included the New York Yankees, California billionaire Ron Burkle and Andrew Farkas, a Cuomo fundraiser and former business partner before Cuomo became state attorney general in 2007.
In the race to succeed Cuomo, Republican Dan Donovan has collected $416,292 since July 12. The Staten Island district attorney got $10,000 from former Sen. Alfonse D'Amato and $5,000 from Donald Trump.
Eric Schneiderman, the Democrat running for attorney general, raised far more, in part because he faced a five-way primary last month. In late September, the state senator from Manhattan received $312,351, including $10,000 each from his father and Manhattan financier Jonathan Soros, son of billionaire George Soros.
In the contest for state comptroller, incumbent Thomas DiNapoli, a Democrat, has received substantial backing from his native Long Island. The former assemblyman from Great Neck has raised $364,607 since mid July. He got $1,000 each from the Rev. Calvin O. Butts, SUNY Old Westbury president and philanthropists Lilo and Gerard Leeds of Great Neck.
Republican comptroller nominee Harry Wilson raised $1.2 million in the period, including $500,000 from his own pocket. Wilson received $75,600 from the family of Manhattan hedge-fund executive Bruce Kovner and $37,800 from Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Among local contributors were Bernadette Castro, the former state parks commissioner from Lloyd Harbor, who gave $1,250.
GENERAL ELECTION CASH
Candidates for statewide offices have garnered substantial donations in recent weeks. Among the notable givers are the wealthy, the well-known, unions and industry groups. Here are some examples:
Governor
Cash on hand: $19.9 million**
Major donors:
Cablevision Systems Corp., owner of Newsday, $30,000 Daniel Wegman, Rochester supermarket executive, $10,000 Donald J. Deutsch, Manhattan advertising executive and former CNBC talk show host, $10,000 Ivanka Trump, daughter of the real estate mogul, $5,000 Edward Koch, former New York City mayor, $1,000
CARL PALADINO, Republican
Cash on hand: $209,407*
Major donors:
Associated Builders and Contractors, construction industry group, $37,800 Erie County Executive Chris Collins, $15,000 Lawrence and Irene Auriana, financier, Greenwich, Conn., $10,000 David Resetarits, construction executive, Buffalo area, $10,000 Hans Utsch, Wayne, Pennsylvania finance executive, $10,000
Attorney General
Dan Donovan, Republican
Cash on hand: $444,621**
Major donors:
Peter S. Kalikow, Manhattan real estate magnate, $40,000 Alfonse D’Amato, former U.S. senator from Lido Beach, $10,000 Donald Trump, real estate mogul, $5,000 Yankee Global Enterprises, owner of the NY Yankees baseball team, $25,000 Fay Vincent, former Major League Baseball commissioner, $2,500
Cash on hand: $1 million*
Major donors:
Democratic Attorneys General Association in Denver, $50,000 Mason Tenders union, $25,000
Mahmood Khimj, Texas real-estate investor, $25,000 Irwin Schneiderman, candidate’s father, $10,000 Jonathan Soros, son of billionaire George Soros, $10,000
State Comptroller
THOMAS DINAPOLI, incumbent Democrat
Cash on hand: $1.4 million**
Major donors:
Bill Samuels, plastics executive and government reformer, $5,000 Rev. Calvin O. Butts, SUNY/Old Westbury president, $1,000 James S. Hagedorn, Scotts Miracle-Gro chief from Port Washington, $1,000 Lilo and Gerard Leeds, founders of CMP Media in Manhasset, $1,000 White Plains law firm of former Lt. Gov. Alfred DelBello, $1,000
HARRY WILSON, Republican
Cash on hand: $2.6 million**
Major donors:
Bruce and Suzanne Kovner, Manhattan hedge fund executive, $75,600 Michael Bloomberg, NYC mayor, $37,800 Daniel Doctoroff, Bloomberg LP president and former mayoral aide, $27,800 Gary Melius, owner of Oheka Castle resort in Huntington, $5,000 Bernadette Castro, furniture seller and former state parks commissioner from Lloyd Harbor, $1,250
*The reports cover Sept. 21-27 because candidate participated in Sept. 14 primary; Schneiderman’s report includes three days after Sept. 27.
**The reports cover July 12-Sept. 27 because candidates did not face a primary. Wilson loaned his campaign $500,000 and still is owed $2.7 million based on earlier loans. The Cuomo, DiNapoli and Wilson reports include four days after Sept. 27.
Compiled by James T. Madore
SOURCE: NYS Board of Elections
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