In the money race, Ryan McMahon, R-Syracuse, has a big lead over his Democratic rival for the Onondaga County Legislature seat for District 15.
McMahon, the Common Councilor for District 3 in the city, has raised almost slightly more than twice as much money as Democratic candidate Mark English, a lawyer who ran unsuccessfully for the legislature in 2007. McMahon also has substantially more money on hand, leftover from previus campaigns.
McMahon’s lead is not surprising, said Kristi Andersen, a political scientist at Syracuse University. In his fundraising, McMahon is benefitting from his years on the Common Council. “Having already been in politics and have these connections are a huge advantage,” she said.
McMahon, a vice president of a mortgage company, has been on the Common Council since 2005. County District 15 is in the Center of Onondaga County, including the southwestern corner of Geddes, Solvay and a small southern portion of the city of Syracuse. The election is Nov. 8.
As of Oct. 27, McMahon had raised $21,400 since announcing his candidacy for the county legislature in May, according to campaign finance reports filed with the New York State Board of Elections. That compares to $10,339 raised by English.
As of late October, here’s an overview of McMahon’s fundraising, from reports filed with the state board of elections:
- In addition to the $21,400 he has raised since May, McMahon had another $20,000 left over from his 2009 Common Council campaign funds.
- That brings his total campaign fund to $41,400.
- Of the money raised since May, about 44 percent — or $9,500 — came from named individual donors.
- Another 45 percent — or $9,700 — came from small businesses.
- His biggest donations were $1,000 each from the campaign committee of Joanie Mahoney, the county executive and a fellow Republican, and from Montreal Construction company, a commercial contractor in Syracuse.
For fundraising, McMahon acknowledged that many of his contributions were from small business and personal business contacts and many of his contacts came with years of working on the Common Council.
“Your working class, everyday folks really can’t afford to give you money. If you don’t have to ask for it, then why would want to ask for it?” McMahon said. Added McMahon: “How do you get your word out to people? You need fundraising. And that requires money.”
In his run for the county legislature’s District 15 seat, McMahon has also greatly increased his campaign spending. So far, McMahon has spent $20,915 — nearly doubling his spending in both 2007 and 2009 when he was running for the Common Council.
As of late October, here’s an overview of McMahon’s expenditures, also from reports filed with the state board of elections:
- Almost 53 percent — or $11,032 — of his spending was on printing cards and postage stamps. The largest single expense was $10,000 at Quartier Printing.
- About 9 percent was spend contributing to political parties and other local candidates.
- McMahon’s largest contribution to another candidate was $1,000 to another Republican, Judy Tassone of Liverpool, the incumbent in county District 4 who is challenged by Democratic candidate David Stott.
(Stephanie Narvaez is a senior with dual majors in broadcast and digital journalism and international relations.)
-30-
