Politics & Government
Campaign Fund Reports Show Cardinale With Cash on Hand, Walter Spending
Two Town Council candidates also failed to submit their report.
Political campaign fund reports filed last week show a tale of two town supervisor candidates a few weeks before Election Day: Democratic candidate Phil Cardinale who has yet to open much of his war chest, and Republican Candidate Sean Water, who has already spent more than $31,000 so far.
Documents filed with the State Board of Elections show Cardinale reported a cash-on-hand balance of $33,649.10, with much of that money coming from the previous balance of his campaign funds after his unsuccessful run for re-election as town supervisor two years ago. Walter reported a balance of $14,806.86, less than half of Cardinale's remaining balance.
Walter, however, reported raising more than Cardinale since the campaign season's start in mid-July. Walter's funds show $34,668.85 in contributions, while Cardinale has raised $6,925 so far.
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Walter's largest individual donors were Richard Humann, of Nesconset, who donated $1,900, William D. Fields, of New Suffolk, and developer Ronald Parr, both contributions of $1,000
Cardinale's largest contributors were John O'Connor, Lisa Lovas, and Alerio A. Cardinale, who all contributed $1,000.
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Unlike Cardinale, who has relied on individual contributions, more than half of Walter's contributions to date have come from corporate donors rather than individual donors. Cardinale received two donations from corporate donors, a $1,000 contribution from Prime Management Corp. of Long Island and a $100 donation from Avery Asset Management Corp., both of Jamesport.
Walter has 72 donations from corporate donors, the largest being two $1,500 donations from Georgio's Catering in Calverton and the Devitt, Spellman and Barrett LLP law firm in Smithtown and donations from the Breslin Realty Group of Garden City and Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard, both $1,000.
Greg Fischer, a third-party candidate who ran an unsuccessful primary bid for the Democratic nomination, reported a balance of $734.20, with a single $1,000 contribution from Helene Burgess and expenditures of $502.35.
Walter has also spent the most of any candidate so far, with $31,525.57 in payments; Cardinale reported spending $7,889.25.
Walter reportedly spent nearly $9,500 in ads, including $5,040 for a radio ad and $1,400 for print advertisements. Walter also spent $6,881.25 on a fundraiser at Stonewalls and $1,000 to pay consultant Tony Coates.
Cardinale's largest purchase was a $3,728 print ad, the next largest being a $650 ad in the Wading River Community Journal.
In the race for Town Council, two candidates did not submit a funding report to the State Board of Elections. Ruth Pollack, a third-party candidate who is not required to submit a report since she has not officially registered as a candidate, and Democratic challenger Marlando Williams did not file. Williams could not be reached for comment.
Republican incumbent Jim Wooten reported no contributions and expenditures of $7,905, leaving him with a balance of $4,427.85. His biggest payments were $2,500 and $1,000 payments to consultants Jack Kratoville and Tesse and Associates, respectively, as well as $2,250 to local news website RiverheadLocal.com.
Republican incumbent George Gabrielsen reported contributions of $13,325 and expenditures of $10,827.65, with a closing balance of $5,381.65. His largest contributors were Elmer Normandin III, who donated $1,000, Eastern Fuel and Kar Consulting Inc, both $500 donations.
Gabrielsen's largest expenses were a $2,661.31 fundraiser and nearly $3,800 in lawn signs and flyers.
Democratic Challenger Matt Van Glad reported raising $750 and spending $38 on postage, leaving him with a balance of $987. Van Glad, who did not receive a donation from any individual source, received a $500 contribution by the Bensonhurst Foundation and $250 by East End Nephrology.
The next, and final, campaign finance deadline before the general election is due on Oct. 28.
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