Labor unions and other political figures are the largest contributors in Democratic state Sen. David Valesky’s fund-raising for the 49th Senate District race.
“The people that donate to our campaign are the people that are already engaged in the system,” said Scott Butler, Valesky’s campaign spokesman.
Valesky is running for his third two-year term representing the district, which includes all of Madison County and parts of Onondaga, Oneida and Cayuga counties. His opponent is Republican Jim DiStefano. The election is Nov. 4.
Here’s an overview of Valesky’s fund raising as of Oct. 23, from reports with the New York State Board of Elections:
- Valesky has raised $202,591 in 10 months. That compares to DiStefano’s $46,639.
- Valesky has spent $48,866, compared to $13,745 by DiStefano.
- Of Valesky’s fund raising, 54 percent — $108,480 — is from political action committees, unions and other associations, including the campaigns of other candidates. The largest donation of this kind is $9,500 from a healthcare workers’ branch of the Service Employees International Union.
- 39 percent — $78,809 — is from individuals. The three largest donations of this kind — all maximum contributions of $9,500 — have come from billionaire entrepreneur George Soros and members of his family. Soros is chairman of the financial firm Soros Fund Management and founder of the Open Society Institute, a liberal grant foundation.
- 7 percent — $15,284 — is from corporations, including New Process Gear in East Syracuse and SRCTEC, a military defense technology company in North Syracuse.
Of the individual contributors, some are big names: Soros; Robert Congel, who founded the parent company of Syracuse’s Carousel Center mall; and Patrick Mannion of Fayetteville, president of Unity Mutual Life Insurance.
Many are also involved in local politics.
Diane Browning is one of the 300 individuals who contributed to Valesky’s campaign this year. She gave $50 in July. Browning is also deputy mayor of North Syracuse.
“We have more of a chance to get to know him a little better when we’re in politics,” Browning said.
(Ed Jacovino is a senior majoring in newspaper journalism and anthropology.)
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