Individual donors and law firms in Onondaga County are the two biggest money sources for Republican John Sharon’s campaign in the 119th state Assembly District race.
As of Oct. 22, Sharon had raised slightly more than $14,000 from individuals and $2,200 from law firms, according to campaign finance reports filed with the state board of elections.
Sharon, a lawyer in the Onondaga County Attorney’s Office who lives in DeWitt, is the Republican Party candidate in the race for 119th state Assembly District seat. For the seat, Sharon faces Democratic candidate Sam Roberts of Syracuse, a former county legislator; the Conservative Party candidate, Christina Fadden Fitch of Liverpool; and Michael Donnelly, a DeWitt attorney, as the Green Party candidate.
All are vying to succeed Assemblywoman Joan Christensen, D-Syracuse, who has held this District’s seat since 1990. She is retiring at the end of her term in November. The 119th state Assembly District includes the towns of Onondaga, Salina, DeWitt, parts of Syracuse and the Onondaga reservation.
The election is Nov. 2.
In the political fundraising, Sharon is second to Roberts, the Democrat, who has $35,189. Fitch, the Conservative Party candidate, has raised $18,801; and Donnelly, the Green Party candidate, has raised $1,263.
Here’s an overview of Sharon’s fundraising, from the state board of elections:
- As of Oct. 22, Sharon had raised a total of $20,755.
- Over 68 percent — or $14,107 — came from named individual donors and 97 percent of those individual donors are from Onondaga County.
- Five law firms contributed approximately 11 percent — or $2,200 — to Sharon’s campaign. The donations from the law firms are $1,000 from Gilberti, Stinziano, Heintz & Smith in Syracuse; $500 from Primo Law Offices in East Syracuse; $250 each from Bond, Schoeneck & King and Testone, Marshall & Discenza both of Syracuse; and $200 from Cambareri & Cambareri also in Syracuse.
- He had spent $10,178 — about 49 percent.
Sharon attributes his support from the law firms as a credit to his time and reputation in the county attorney’s office. “I have developed working relationships with many of the attorneys who work in these firms,” Sharon said. “I am very pleased to have support from people I have worked with in the past.”
Among his named individual donors, the largest contributor is Charles Major of Liverpool, who contributed $1,000. Sharon’s wife, Mary Barbara Lovas, is Major’s niece. And the family tie helped encourage him to chip in to Sharon’s campaign, Major said.
He’s unaffiliated with a party but typically votes for the Democratic candidate, including retiring incumbent Christensen. Sharon’s “integrity,” said Major, also persuaded him to donate.
To support Sharon, Eugene Camerota, a consulting engineer from Brewerton, made his first political contribution this year. As an engineer, Camerota specializes in accident reconstructions and product liability and has often been an expert witness in lawsuits handled by Sharon.
“I have never in my life given to any political campaign,” Camerota said, “but I did with John because that’s how much I like him.” He called Sharon “an honest and loyal person.” Added Camerota: “I really respect that.”
In the money race, Sharon said, he realizes he was slow out of the gate. But he’s stepped up his fundraising in October with three events that have brought in $11,061 to his campaign. That’s more than doubled his money since September, when he had only $9,694. In his recent increase in funding, Sharon said, “Voters are starting to see some sort of traction here in my campaign.”
Success in fundraising leads to more success, said Jeff Stonecash, a political scientist at Syracuse University. Politicians don’t buy elections, he said, but fundraising is a necessary part of campaigning.
“If you can’t raise money, you can’t present yourself to voters and present your message,” Stonecash said. “You have to raise money to show others that you have support, and they should contribute.”
(Lauren Malinowski is a graduate student in broadcast and digital journalism.)
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