For his campaign cash, District 7 county legislator Danny Liedka, R-East Syracuse, gets most of his support from business associates, other politicians and a few named individuals.
From Jan. 1 to Nov. 1, Liedka raised $5,103 from those key sources, according to reports filed with the New York state Board of Elections.
“For me personally, it’s just my personal network of people that I’ve known for years,” Liedka said.
In the Nov. 5 election, Liedka is running for a second term in District 7 of the Onondaga County Legislature. He is facing Democrat Lorene Dadey, also from East Syracuse. In 2011, Liedka defeated Dadey by about 200 votes. In fundraising for 2013, Dadey had raised $9,327 in the same period.
District 7 is in the central region of Onondaga County, including a small northeastern part of the city of Syracuse, most of the northern and western parts of DeWitt and all of East Syracuse.
As a Republican, Liedka fights an uphill battle against the district’s voter enrollment. Of the district’s 16,382 voters, Democrats outnumber Republicans 40 to 26 percent. That’s 6,616 registered voters to 4,306. Another 25 percent – or 4,192 voters – are unaffiliated with a political party.
Here’s a look at Liedka’s campaign finances, from state Board of Elections reports:
- Of his total $5,103, about 33 percent – or $1,700 – from two businesses: Marriott and the Syracuse law firm of Cambareri and Cambareri. Liedka works for the hotel chain Marriott International, which has a political action committee, or PAC, for its employees who are also politicians.
- 27 percent – or $1,353 – is from named individual donors. The largest is $1,000 from Michael Santaro of Fayetteville.
- 21 percent – or $1,050 – came from PACs of other local officials. The largest was $500 from the PAC of state Sen. John DeFrancisco, R-Syracuse.
- Almost 20 percent – or $1,000 – is from The Onondaga County Republican Committee.
Compared to the same period in the 2011 campaign, Liedka has raised less money. In 2011, Liedka raised over $17,000. Despite not raising as much money as last election, Liedka says he isn’t worried.
“I’ve got every ounce of resource I need to do an effective campaign,” Liedka said. “I’m not concerned at all.” He added: “Money is a big part of the race, but me getting to the doors so people can actually see me and my personality is more important.”
As of Oct. 25, Liedka’s campaign had spent $5,185 in 2013. Of that, 52 percent went to campaign literature and 28 percent to fundraising. His campaign, treasurer Patricia Derby said, had about $3,000 on hand.
Politicians in New York only have to disclose the names of donors who contribute over $99. But, Liedka said, he reports all of them.
“I disclose every nickel that’s given to me whether it’s one dollar or 100 dollars because that’s the way I do things,” Liedka said. “That’s what I believe in – being open and honest.”
(Sean Farrell is a junior with dual majors in broadcast and digital journalism and political science.)
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