STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Former Congressman Vito Fossella continues to be the only candidate for borough president to not receive public matching funds from the city’s Campaign Finance Board (CFB). He’s also the only candidate in all races for office on Staten Island to not file with the city’s Conflict of Interest Board.
To qualify for public matching funds, borough president candidates must raise at least $10,000 in total contributions from 100 or more individual Staten Island donors.
In addition to the fundraising threshold, candidates must also report all financial campaign activity through expenditure and in-kind contribution reports; report employment information for a portion of its matching claims and provide complete and accurate backup documentation for a portion of its matching claims.
Additionally, Fossella was the only candidate to not file a necessary report with the city’s Conflict of Interest Board (COIB) – also a requirement to receive matching funds. All candidates for citywide office are required to file with the COIB.
According to the COIB, “the purpose of the annual disclosure law is to provide transparency to ensure that there are no prohibited conflicts of interest between public servants’ official duties and the private interests.”
Candidates for public office must disclose their financial information, outside positions and interests, as well as the financial information of their spouses, domestic partners and children.
“To qualify for small donor matching funds, New York City candidates must demonstrate that they are in full compliance with city law. Filing the candidate’s financial disclosure form with the Conflicts of Interest Board is one of those requirements,” said CFB spokesman Matthew Sollars.
“The voters of New York City deserve transparency from candidates about their financial activities before the election,” Sollars added.
Said David Catalfamo, a Fossella campaign spokesperson: “The personal disclosure was filed before deadline, but was kicked back for more information on one question which our lawyer is discussing with the COIB.”
The COIB only said it doesn’t have “a publicly available 2020 candidate report for Vito Fossella.”
MONEY RAISED NOT THE REASON FOR DISQUALIFICATION
Conservative Party candidate Leticia Remauro and Democratic candidate Mark Murphy both received payments from the CFB on Sept. 2 -- $24,502 and $146,165, respectively – but for the third time this election cycle, Fossella did not qualify.
Remauro has raised $740,843 between individual donations -- of which there were 1,072 -- loans, private funds and matching funds, CFB data shows. Murphy has raised $690,021 from 985 people, as well as loans, private funds and matching funds.
Fossella raised $66,685 from 409 donors, according to the CFB.
Fossella, like Remauro and Murphy, met the contribution threshold outlined by the CFB; however, there are still inaccuracies with his campaign’s expenditure and in-kind contribution disclosures that are likely the reason he was disqualified from receiving matching funds.
JUNE FUNDRAISER, BILLBOARD STILL MISSING FROM REPORT
The Fossella campaign held three fundraisers prior to the June 22 primary –- April 29 at The Roadhouse in Sunnyside; June 1 at Joyce’s Tavern in Eltingville; and June 2 at Italianissimo in South Beach -– all of which were promoted as being paid for by “Vito Fossella for BP.”
Joyce’s Tavern fundraiser was the only fundraiser of the three that was reported during the appropriate disclosure period, according to CFB records. The fundraiser at The Roadhouse was disclosed weeks after the May 21 deadline.
The Italianissimo fundraiser has yet to be reported, according to CFB records. The deadline was June 11.
Also missing from CFB filings is the billboard that went up in June near the Outerbridge Crossing that read “Elect Vito Fossella Borough President.”
A source with knowledge of the campaign said the billboard was not associated with the Fossella campaign. “It was a spontaneous show of support, much like a handmade lawn sign or social media post,” the source said.
A CFB spokesperson told the Advance/SILive.com that the campaign is maintaining the billboard is an independent expenditure.
“All independent expenditures, like the billboard (assuming the billboard ad cost $1,000 or more) are required to be disclosed to the public, via our website. This would include disclosure of who paid for the ad, etc., along with the “paid for by” notice,” the CFB spokesperson said.
The billboard still needs to be reported even if it is not associated with the campaign. A source with knowledge of the situation said the billboard in question is being probed.
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