Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley, center, has landed the support
of a number of unions in her campaign for re-election. File Photo
The Democratic incumbents running for the City Council’s 29th and 30th districts did not raise much more than their challengers in the past couple months, but Council members Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village) and Karen Koslowitz (D-Forest Hills) still have more padding in their war chests.
According to the most recent filings with the city Campaign Finance Board, Crowley landed $7,175 in contributions between May 12 and July 11 – but has raised a total of $187,588 and, after spending, has a little more than $160,000 on hand. Craig Caruana, a Republican from Middle Village who is running against Crowley, raised $7,207 this fundraising period and has received a total of $31,318 during this campaign season. After spending, he has $12,404 on hand in the race for the 30th Council District, which covers Glendale, Maspeth, Middle Village, Richmond Hill, Ridgewood, and Woodhaven.
A spokesman for Crowley’s campaign, Eric Yun, said the legislator, first elected to the area in 2008, was not focusing on fundraising.
“Council member Crowley maxxed out on her spending limit a while ago,” Yun said. “Fundraising isn’t the biggest issue. We’re very proud of all the support we’ve gotten in the city and district-wide, and we’re ready to go.”
Yun said Crowley does not plan on holding any fundraisers in the near future.
Caruana said he has been pleased with the financial response to his campaign.
“I’m grateful for all the support and contributions I’ve received from the people in our district, many of whom have shared their concerns,” Caruana said. “Thanks to their support, we should be about evenly matched in the fall. I look forward to listening to more voters and fighting for their needs in City Hall.”
Craig Caruana, second from left, is joined at a recent fundraiser by Tom Ognibene, left, mayoral candidate Joe Lhota, Councilman Eric Ulrich, and former U.S. Rep. Bob Turner.
A spokesman for Caruana, Kevin Ryan, added that if “Crowley sticks the the [Campaign Finance Board] matching fund spending limits, the campaigns will be evenly matched, and it will be a spirited race.
“A growing number of voters are disgusted by how low the district ranks in funding,” Ryan continued. “It’s a disgrace, and the voters are ready for a real advocate.
Crowley lost nearly $300,000 in discretionary funding in the budget passed last June, receiving about $380,000 – a decrease a number of political insiders attributed to the legislator’s run for Congress against now U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens), which they said angered Council Speaker Christine Quinn (D-Manhattan).
Meanwhile, in the race for the 29th Council District – which covers Forest Hills, Rego Park, Kew Gardens and parts of Maspeth, Richmond Hill and Elmhurst – Koslowitz raised $3,750 in the last filing period but has fundraised a total of $82,724 and has $30,380 on hand.
Kew Gardens resident Jon Torodash, who is challenging Koslowitz on the Independence Party line, landed $720 this filing period and has raised a total of $1,915. He has $1,638 on hand.
Koslowitz, who was elected in 2009, first served in the Council from 1991 to 2001 and then worked as deputy borough president. Torodash has labeled himself the “Civic Virtue” candidate because of his efforts to restore the statue that was removed from outside Queens Borough Hall in December and brought to a cemetery in Brooklyn.
By Anna Gustafson
