In the race to fill their political treasure chests, only one of the three Democratic candidates seeking the state’s 119th Assembly District seat has reported raising any money.
As of mid-April, Jane Fahey-Suddaby, assistant superintendent for instructional support services for Oswego County BOCES, is the only candidate who has filed campaign finance reports with the State Board of Elections for the Assembly race. She has raised $3,300, with no campaign expenditures, according to her report on file as of mid-April.
The other candidates are Philip LaTessa, the Syracuse city auditor, andSam Roberts, a former Onondaga County legislator from Syracuse. Neither have filed campaign finance disclosures for the state assembly race as of mid-April. State law does not require filing a report until July 15. But some candidates file at other times.
With three Democratic candidates, the Onondaga County Democratic Party had not yet nominated one by mid-April. As long as more than one candidate seeks the party’s nomination, Democratic voters will name their candidate on Sept. 14, in a primary election.
The general election is Nov. 2, 2010.
The 119th Assembly District includes Salina, Dewitt, Onondaga and portions of the east and south side of Syracuse. It also includes Syracuse University, Le Moyne College as well as the Veterans Affairs, Crouse and University hospitals.
Fahey-Suddaby began raising money on Dec. 28, 2009, for what then shaped up to be a race against 18-year-incumbent Joan Christensen, D-Syracuse. In January, Christensen announced that she would retire at the end of this term, opening the door for the three current candidates.
As of mid-April, here’s an overview of Fahey-Suddaby’s fundraising, according to data from the New York State Board of Elections:
- The campaign had raised $3,300.
- It reported no expenditures so far.
- Of the money raised, 70 percent was from five named individuals from Syracuse. That’s $2,300.
- 30 percent —or $1,000 — came from Daniel J. French & Associates, a Syracuse-based government lobbying and consulting firm.
A spokesman for city auditor LaTessa’s campaign, David Byrne, said it is typical for candidates running for state office not to disclose their campaign finances until July 15. Then they are required to file a periodic report to the New York State Board of Elections, detailing their campaign expenditures and contributions. LaTessa’s campaign is pleased with its fundraising now, Byrne said. But he declined to disclose any exact numbers or estimates.
The campaign account for Friends of Phil LaTessa —the committee used in his campaign for auditor —shows a balance of $3,652 in January.
Sam Roberts, the former county legislator, has not filed campaign finance reports with the State Board of Elections for the 119th Assembly District race. He and his campaign staff did not respond to five requests for interviews for this story
(Pete Smith is a junior with dual majors in newspaper journalism and Middle-Eastern studies.)
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