They say money isn’t everything.
In a political campaign, however, it certainly helps.
The first major financial filings in the 2009 Bethlehem town races are in and show that incumbent Democratic Supervisor Jack Cunningham has raised over $20,000 since the beginning of the year.
Independence Party Councilman Sam Messina has yet to raise any money in his bid to unseat Cunningham.
The deadline for filing financial disclosure reports to the state or county board of elections was on July 15. Because Messina has not collected any money, his campaign Friends of Sam Messina, is well below the threshold to report financial activity to the board of elections.
`If it’s under $1,000 he doesn’t have to file anything with us and if it’s under $50 he doesn’t have to file with the county’s board of elections,` said John Conklin, a spokesman for the New York State Board of Elections.
Conklin said not even a `no activity` filing is necessary if it is under the state mandated thresholds. Messina told The Spotlight that after a computer software problem his campaign’s treasurer John Smolinsky manually filed his financial disclosure reports to the board of election.
The state’s board of elections Web site states a total contribution balance of `$0.00` for Messina.
`I’ve spend a little over $1,000 of total expenditures so far, namely on my Web site and palm cards,` Messina said. `From my understanding this should be reported on my next financial disclosure statement.`
Cunningham held a well-attended campaign kickoff and fundraiser at the Normanside Country Club when he announced his intentions to run for re-election in March. His campaign said it anticipates holding several more fundraising events as well.
Messina has not held a fundraiser to date, but said some are in the works.
`I have raised no money but I’m going to have a couple of major fundraisers,` he said. `I plain to have one at my home in mid-August and one with the community at a restaurant in mid-October.`
Cunningham’s contributions reported by the state since Jan. 1, states a total of $20,621.25. It also lists his expenditures in the same time period as 8,326.48.
Cunningham’s expenditures appear to be fairly typical with receipts from the post office and printing shops for campaign literature, as well donations to other political organizations such as $1,300 to the Albany County Democrats, $150 to the county’s Independence and Conservative parties, and $50 to Sheriff James Campbell’s re-election fund.
His campaign fund, called the `Committee to Elect Cunningham,` also contributed $100 to the Bethlehem Food Pantry and $90 to the Bethlehem VFW.
On the income side, Cunningham received his two biggest individual contributions in the form of $1,000 checks from Thomas Burke of Delmar, a developer and franchisee of several Capital District Dunkin Donuts, and Thomas Connolly of Delmar, an attorney who is also the town’s IDA attorney.
Burke and Connolly regularly contribute thousands to political campaigns on both sides of aisle each year, according to federal disclosure reports.
Burke contributed $2,100 to former Republican Congressman John Sweeney in 2006 and gave $1,000 to Albany County Legislator Phil Steck, a Democrat, in 2008 for his Congressional run. Connolly contributed to presidential hopefuls Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, as well as President Barrack Obama in 2008. He also decided to back Coeymans attorney Tracey Brooks last year, giving $1,000 to her congressional bid.
Cunningham has also received $250 from the BBL PAC, one of the biggest construction firms in the area and a manager of the Vista Technology Campus project in Slingerlands, as well as donations from a number of area politicians such as state Sen. Neil Breslin, D-Delmar; Albany County Executive Michael Breslin; Assemblyman Tim Gordon, I-Bethlehem; and several others.
`Our strong fundraising success, along with the large number of petition signers and our dozens of dedicated volunteers, demonstrates the broad and deep support for my candidacy,` said Cunningham. `I am anxious to meet with the voters and discuss my record and vision for the future of Bethlehem.`
Messina said a momentary lack of money would not derail his bid for office.
`I will raise enough money to have a viable and successful campaign,` Messina said. `I think local elections should focus on meeting and talking with the residents of the community.`
Both candidates are soliciting donations on their campaign Web sites.
Cunningham’s is www.keepcunningham.com and Messina’s is www.messinaforsupervisor.com.
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