A little money from a few friend is funding his run for Syracuse mayor, says Conservative Party candidate Ian Hunter.
And he’s just fine with that, he says. “I just don’t want to burn friendships by asking people for money,” Hunter said.
He also downplays the importance of money to his campaign. “I’m not raising a lot of money,” he said. “And I’m not going to spend a lot of money because it’s a tough race.”
In the Nov. 5 election, Hunter faces incumbent Democratic Mayor Stephanie Miner and Green Party nominee Kevin Bott.
Hunter is at a strong enrollment and financial disadvantage in the race. Of the 71,014 registered voters in the city of Syracuse, registered Democrats outnumber registered Conservatives by a whopping 38,813 to 665.
As for money, Miner is far ahead of her competition. As of Oct. 31, she has about $169,144 left to spend before the Nov. 5 general election, according to financial disclosure reports filed with the state.
“There’s no way I’m going to compete against that,” Hunter said. Hunter acknowledges that he’s raised about $1,000. But he’s unsure of the exact amount, he said.
State law mandates that candidates report any fundraising of at least $1,000, according to a spokesperson for the New York State Board of Elections. As of Oct. 31, he had not yet filed any campaign finance reports with the New York State Board of Elections. He blames the lapse on losing help from a friend and too little time from his other obligations of family and business to do it himself.
But he is aware, he said, of the law’s requirement to file fundraising reports. “I have to file something,” he said. “I’ll be late. I’m not sure if they’re going to fine me.”
One of the contributions Hunter acknowledges comes from Paul Bertan of Camillus, a longtime friend and registered Conservative Party member. Bertan gave $99 dollars to his campaign, Hunter said.
Bertan credits his donation to support for Hunter’s vision for Syracuse. “He’s got some pretty good ideas about what to do,” Bertan said. As an example, Bertan cited Hunter’s intended voucher system for public schools.
Dick Mancini, owner of D.J. Mancini Construction in DeWitt, donated $300 to Hunter. Hunter needs the money to promote himself, Mancini said. “He could use that for anything that could get him exposure,” Mancini said. “It’s tough to go against a major candidate like Miner.”
So far the money has been spent on postage and legal fees, with some earmarked for campaign literature, Hunter said. He’s unsure of the exact amount he’s spent, he says.
Hunter’s fundraising plight is typical for candidates outside of major parties, according to Grant Reeher, a political scientist and director of the Campbell Public Affairs Institute at Syracuse University.
“The two major parties tap into a network of donors,” Reeher said. “Once you’re outside of that, you need your own personal network, and unless you’re prominent in the community – and connected to other citizens of means – it’s very hard to raise the necessary money.”
(John Tummino is a junior with dual majors in broadcast and digital journalism and political science.)
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