COLONIE — With early voting set to begin later this month, Republican George Scaringe outraised incumbent Paula Mahan, a Democrat, in the latest campaign finance disclosures by more than 7 to 1.
According to the 32-day pre-general report filed with the state Board of Elections, Scaringe raised a little more than $18,000 and Mahan raised about $2,500.
“I am very happy with the outpouring of support for my campaign for Colonie town supervisor,” said Scaringe. “The majority of residents that I have spoken with throughout this campaign have voiced their concerns over traffic congestion, development issues and the management of Town Hall. I believe residents are ready for a change and feel that my opponent’s lack of local support is a clear indication of that fact.”
Mahan, though, said her campaign is running well and she has a fundraiser coming up at the end of the month.
“We are doing very well. We are working as a group, as a committee and we are where we want to be,” she said of the three Democrats who are running for Town Board. “Everything is going really well. We are out and about and the feedback we have been getting from residents has been excellent. We have a great team and everyone is working hard and we are doing everything we planned to do.
There are three open seats on the Town Board with Democrats Jill Penn, Brian Austin and incumbent Paul Rosano running against Republicans Rick Field, Danielle Futia and incumbent Chris Carey.
According to the latest filing, the candidacy committee for the Colonie Republicans raised $8,821 for a balance of $12,150 heading into the final month of campaigning. It also has $12,954 in its housekeeping account. Those numbers are from the July report. Neither committee filed a 32-day pre-general report.
The Colonie Democratic Committee raised $474, according to the 32-day pre-general report, for a closing balance of $14,043.
Supervisor’s race
Scaringe has $38,046 heading into the campaign’s final stretch and Mahan has $18,971. The money is typically spent on for mailings, media advertising and other expenses associated with running a campaign in a town that spans nearly 58 square miles and has a population of about 83,000.
Scaringe is making his first run at public office but has been involved behind the scenes for decades as the Albany County and Town of Colonie Republican chair. Mahan is seeking her seventh, two-year term in office.
Since the July report, Scaringe spent $13,569 while Mahan spent $16,000.
The incumbent’s largest expenses were, according to the latest filing, were $7,719 for a billboard, $4,463 for lawn signs and $1,202 for literature. She received two $1,000 donations which made up the brunt of her contributions, one by Sandra Kiepura and one by Rosetti Holding Companies.
Scaringe spent $6,616 on a billboard, $2,068 on print advertising with this newspaper and paid campaign manager Chris Stazio $2,000. He received a $1,500 contribution from Mark Mottolese but the majority of the individual donations were for $250 or less. He also received a $1,000 donation from MJ Engineering and Land Surveying and $1,000 from SJA Associates. He has one outstanding loan, which he made to himself for $2,000.
Town and other municipal campaigns have traditionally received support from county and larger committees. The Albany County Democratic Committee, according to the latest filings, raised $18,348 since July for an ending balance of $34,534. Its Republican counterpart raised $4,027 for an ending balance of $2,734.
Just two candidates of the six filed the required disclosure statements with the state Board of Elections by the Oct. 4 deadline for monies raised through Sept. 30. Carey raised $410 for a balance of $4,076 while Rosano raised $3,577 for a balance of $80. Futia, Austin, Field and Penn did not file any “itemized financial data.”
The next filing, the 11-day pre-general, the last before voting starts, is due on Oct. 25 for money raised through Oct. 21.
Early voting
This year is the first time New York state will allow early voting and there will be one polling place per about 50,000 registered voters. It will begin on Saturday, Oct. 26 and run through Sunday, Nov. 3. Election Day proper is Tuesday, Nov. 5. No votes will be counted, as per state law, prior to the polls closing at 9 p.m. on Nov. 5
Friday, Oct. 11 is the last day to register to vote in this election cycle.
In Albany County there are six early voting sites, two of them are in Colonie.
Registered voters living in town Election Districts 1-6, 31, 35-59 and 61 can vote at the Boght Community Fire Department located at 8 Preston Drive, Cohoes. Those living in Election Districts 7-30, 32-34 and 60 can vote at Lisha Kill Reformed Church located at 2131 Central Ave.
Polls are open on Oct. 26 and Oct. 27 27 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Oct. 28 from noon to 8 p.m.; Oct. 29 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Oct. 30 from noon to 8 p.m.; Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Nov. 2 and Nov. 3 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
To find out your Election District visit the Albany County Board of Elections website or call 518-487-5060.
