Family, friends and unions are the money people in Democrat Bill Ryan’s bid for re-election to the Syracuse Common Council.
Ryan has been an at-large councilor for four years. He says he has a strong relationship with the trade unions of Syracuse.
“I try to look out for them. I tried to look out for them in the Destiny debate that we made sure that we had local union workers that were paid union scale. That didn’t work out, but I’ve developed a good relationship with trade unions in the city of Syracuse.” [Bill Ryan]
Ryan has raised more than $24,000 during his campaign.
Ryan and fellow Democrat, Kathleen Joy, are seeking re-election for two at-large seats on the Syracuse Common Council. For both, this would be their second term. They are running against Bill Harper of the Republican party; Robert Teachout of the Conservative party; and Howie Hawkins of the Green party.
Ryan says he doesn’t enjoy fund-raising, but says he has to do it if he wants to be re-elected.
“It’s a necessary evil of the job quite frankly. I don’t enjoy it all. I don’t know anyone who does.” [Bill Ryan]
Ryan filed the required campaign finance report with the State Board of Elections on October 5. That report showed that in February, he hosted a fundraising event that helped him raise more than $6,500.
This is how his campaign finance totals break down:
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38 percent — $9,200 — came from individual donors.
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36 percent — $8,800 — is from organizations and unions.
- 25 percent–$6,000– is from a loan to himself.
Danny Hayes is a political scientist at the Maxwell School of Public Affairs and Citizenship at Syracuse University. And he told a Democracywise reporter that it’s not unusual for a local politician to lend money to his own campaign.
“If they think that they won’t be able to raise as much money as they’ll need, one thing they can do is to take out a loan and lend themselves money, so that they don’t have to try and raise themselves that money, and not do it.” [Danny Hayes]
Ryan’s biggest expense so far is for his eight billboards made by Park Row Campaign Management. Those cost his campaign nearly $16,000. And that nearly cleaned out Ryan’s account, leaving his campaign with just $285 in the bank.
Since the filing of his campaign finance report on October 5, Ryan says he has had another fundraiser to give his campaign an extra boost. And he says checks are still coming. But he said he did not yet know the new amounts that he’s raised recently.
The election is November 6th.
For Democracywise, I’m Ted Johnsen.
(Ted Johnsen is a graduate student in broadcast journalism.)
(Jordan Meddy contributed to this story)
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