The money in Republican John Sharon’s campaign for the 128th State Assembly District is mostly coming from named individuals.
“My focus has been on individuals,” Sharon said. “I’m a little leery of PACs and business groups. I don’t want to get boxed in.”
Sharon is challenging Assemblyman Sam Roberts, D-Syracuse. The 128th Assembly District includes parts of the Southside of Syracuse and the towns of Salina, DeWitt, and Onondaga. The election is Nov. 6.
In 2010, Sharon ran against Roberts for this seat and lost by 7,616 votes. He is at a strong disadvantage in voter enrollment, with 44 percent of the district’s voters registered as are Democrats, 25 percent as Republicans and 24 percent not affiliated with any political party.
As of Oct. 15, Sharon’s campaign raised $17,095, according to campaign finance reports with the New York State Board of Elections. But Sharon’s campaign took a hit financially when it had to return $5,900 in early October.
“It’s disappointing when you’re talking a race of this size,” Sharon said. “It’s not easy, but what has to be done has to be done.”
The money was returned to John Watters of Dallas, Texas, who is a cousin of Sharon. Family members can contribute up to $10,000 to a campaign, the amount that Watters gave to Sharon this past August. It turns out cousins are not sufficient for family contributions, Sharon said. Watters could only give the maximum amount of $4,100 for individual contributions. His campaign has refunded the difference, Sharon said.
Here is an overview of Sharon’s fundraising from campaign finance reports filed with the New York State Board of Elections, excluding $5,900 refund:
- As of Oct. 22, Sharon has raised $11,195 in 2012.
- Of that, 77 percent – or $8,662 – came from 18 named individuals.
- 9 percent – or $1,050 – came from businesses.
- 7 percent – or $800 – came from political groups.
- Sharon’s cousin John Watters is still the largest individual donor, giving $4,100.
- The campaign has spent $315 on stationary and office supplies.
- That leaves Sharon’s campaign with $10,880 on hand.
To raise people’s awareness of him as a candidate, Sharon said, he is planning on doing some mailings. He had a fundraiser on Oct. 23 at Drumlins Country Club in Syracuse. He would be happy to get close to 100 people through the doors.
“The goal is to get the event paid for,” said Sharon, “and maybe some extra at the end of the night.”
(Tom Magnarelli is a graduate student in broadcast and digital journalism.)
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