For his political war chest, Democratic incumbent Al Stirpe of the 121st Assembly District has raised almost all his re-election campaign funds from Central New York.
As of mid-April, Stirpe had raised $10,923, according to reports filed with the State Board of Elections. Of that amount, 88 percent — or $9,612 — came from donors in Central New York.
“That’s something I’m particularly proud of,” said Stirpe. “Almost all of my financial support comes from my district, not from some distant contributor.”
Stirpe, the Democratic incumbent, faces likely challenges from twoRepublicans, Donald Miller, a businessman from Clay, and Sandra Schepp, a town councilor from Manlius. Neither Miller nor Schepp have yet filed a campaign finance disclosure report as of mid-April. They are not required to file their first report until July 15.
The 121st Assembly District is includes the towns of Cicero, Clay, Manlius, LaFayette and Pompey. If Miller and Schepp compete for the Republicanticket, the primaries will be on Sep. 14, 2010. The general election will be Nov. 2, 2010.
Some highlights of Stirpe’s campaign finances, from the State Board of Elections database:
- From July 2009 through January 2010, Stirpe has raised $10,923.
- Of that, 60 percent — or $6,523 — came from named individual donors.
- 40 percent — or $4,400 — came from groups such as political action committees that raise money for issues or candidates, private corporations or other groups.
- Stirpe’s largest non-individual contributor is the Service Employees International Union PAC, which gave $1,500. “We support candidates that protect the rights and jobs of our workers in Central New York,” said Mike Clark of Syracuse’s chapter of SEIU. “We proudly continue to support Al Stirpe.”
- Stirpe has already spent $15,302 on his campaign.
- Of those expenditures, 38 percent — or $5,720 — went for office supplies, postage and shipping.
- Another 16 percent — or $2,500 — paid for catering at events across Central New York.
Since July 2009, Stirpe has contributed more than $1,950 to other Central New York politicians’ political campaigns, including recently-elected mayor of Syracuse, Stephanie Miner.
It’s common for politicians to contribute to others candidates’ campaigns, said Kristi Andersen, a political scientist at Syracuse University and an elected member of the Cazenovia town board since 2005. “Politicians often do this to build connections and coalitions in government,” said Andersen. “If these individuals are eventually elected to public office, they would be more willing to help those who’ve helped them in the past.”
Corporations often donate to political candidates to make them more accessible if they are eventually elected, said Andersen.“Corporations or businesses donate to a political candidate for what we like to call ‘access,’” said Andersen. “These politicians will be more responsive to phone calls and be more willing to meet with businesses that supported their political campaign.”
Stirpe is a member of the State Assembly committees on agriculture, economic development, higher education and small business. He is also the chair of the subcommittee on export trade.
He expects to spend the most amount of money on television and radio advertisements in the weeks before the election, said Stirpe. During his 2008 campaign, Stirpe spent almost $1 million on television and radio advertisements.
“From now until early fall is when I do most of my fundraising,” said Stirpe. “I’ve only just gotten started.”
(Joe Frandino is a senior with dual majors in newspaper journalism and political science.)
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