Craig Caruana, second from left, surrounded by Republican allies at a recent fundraiser. (L to R): Tom Ognibene, mayoral candidate Joe Lhota, Councilman Eric Ulrich and former congressman, Bob Turner. Photo Courtesy of Craig Caruana's Office.
While Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village) has more than five times the amount of money in her campaign war chest than her Republican opponent, civic activist Craig Caruana, the two candidates raised almost the same amount of money over the past two months, according to their most recent filings with the city Campaign Finance Board.
Crowley raised $8,665 from March 12 to May 11, the most recent campaign finance filing period, while Caruana landed $8,375 in the race for the 30th Council District. The district covers Glendale, Maspeth, Middle Village, Richmond Hill, Ridgewood, and Woodhaven.
The councilwoman, who was elected in 2008, has raised a total of about $154,000 and spent about $65,000, leaving her with $87,852 on hand.
“I am thankful for the tremendous support I have received from within the community and throughout the city,” Crowley said in a statement. “They have seen how hard I have worked to improve our neighborhoods and know that I will continue fighting for middle class families to strengthen our schools, provide key services and health care for seniors and protect our public safety.”
Caruana has garnered $24,111 in contributions and has spent a little more than $9,000, leaving a total of about $15,079 on hand.
Council member Elizabeth Crowley has garnered the support of some substantial unions but challenger Craig Caruana remains on her fund raising coattails for the last period recorded. A difference of a few hundred dollars separates the two council candidates for filings which ended on May 11. Photo Courtesy of William Alatriste, New York City Council.
“I am satisfied that the campaign is raising the necessary amount of money to win this election,” Caruana, a Middle Village native, said in a statement. “I am proud that we already have had nearly 200 individual donors, half of which live in the district and are first-time contributors to a political campaign. It shows that there is a mandate for a change in our City Council representation.”
The Middle Village councilwoman has landed 369 contributors, who have given an average of $382. She has received $110,863 from city residents, and $30,275 from individuals outside of New York City, according to the Campaign Finance Board.
Caruana has secured donations from 185 contributors, who have given an average of $130. City residents have doled out $18,371 for him, and non-city residents have given $5,740, according to the CFB.
Crowley, who recently lost a bid for the Congressional seat now held by U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Flushing), received her largest donation – $2,500 – this filing period from Broadway Stages CEO Gina Argento, of Astoria. Caruana received financial backing from former U.S. Rep. Bob Turner – a Republican who won the seat previously held by former U.S. Rep., and now mayoral candidate, Anthony Weiner. Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) also gave to Caruana.
Both candidates have touted endorsements as of late, with Caruana announcing on Tuesday that Republican mayoral candidate Joe Lhota, former head of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, was officially backing him.
“I need Craig standing by me, fighting in the City Council to reduce the cost of living in New York,” Lhota said in a prepared statement.
Turner, Ulrich and former Councilman Tom Ognibene attended Lhota’s announcement and also expressed their support for the candidacies of Caruana and Lhota.
Crowley, the first female and first Democrat elected to represent her seat, has landed endorsements from the United Federation of Teachers, 32 BJ SEIU – a union representing about 50,000 building service workers in New York, and the Detectives’ Endowment Association.
The councilwoman, who chairs the Fire & Criminal Justice Services Committee, received a number of donations from individual union members in this filing period – and other filing periods as well.
By Anna Gustafson
