Curran gets more campaign cash than Martins, Maragos

Noah Manskar
Clockwise from top left: Laura Curran, George Maragos and Jack Martins.

Democrat Laura Curran has a cash advantage of nearly $250,000 over Republican Jack Martins in the Nassau County executive race, according to campaign finance reports filed Monday with the state Board of Elections.

Curran raised more than $718,000 from January to July 13, more than twice the roughly $357,000 Martins took in after launching his campaign in April. Curran closed the six-month reporting period with $577,644 on hand to Martins’ $338,953.

County Comptroller George Maragos, Curran’s Democratic primary opponent, still has the largest war chest of the three candidates, leaving $1,288,023 in the bank as of last week after spending $235,274.

Maragos previously loaned his campaign $1.5 million and is not taking contributions from special-interest donors. He raised only $3,406 from January to last week.

Curran got several big-money donations, including $36,000 from Nassau Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs and his wife, Mindy; $20,000 from venture capitalist Bryan Lawrence; and $16,000 from Peter Forman, the Village of Sands Point deputy mayor.

Martins, a former state senator and Mineola mayor, transferred about $38,000 from his Senate campaign accounts and got $50,000 from the New York State GOP.

The Committee for Fair Property Taxes, a political committee formed on behalf of Nassau’s largest property tax appeal firms, gave Curran $5,000 and Martins $1,000. Both candidates got donations from labor unions and large law firms.

“I am thrilled to have the support of so many Nassau residents who are rejecting the tried and failed culture of corruption and are clearly ready to give Nassau County the fresh start it deserves,” Curran said in a statement Tuesday.

Martins noted that he has only been campaigning for 78 days, while Curran launched her campaign last November.

“Voters are fed up and tell me I am the one in this race to put Nassau County back on the right track, to fight for middle class families and the men and women who want change,” Martins said in a statement Monday.

Maragos’ campaign on Tuesday assailed Curran for taking so many large donations, saying the comptroller’s largely self-funded campaign would be free from corporate or political influence.

“The Special Interests bought their candidates. George Maragos will be the people’s choice,” Maragos said Monday on Twitter.

The three candidates are vying to replace Edward Mangano, the Republican county executive who faces federal corruption charges. He recently failed to get on the ballot with an established political party.

Mangano’s campaign committee had not filed a campaign finance report as of Tuesday evening.

Candidates for Town of North Hempstead offices took in and spent far less money than those for county executive.

Democratic Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth, seeking a third term, had $326,022 on hand after raising more than $130,000 and spending more than $135,000 during the six-month period.

Her Republican opponent, Stephen Nasta, did not have a campaign account registered with the state Board of Elections.

Democratic Town Clerk Wayne Wink had nearly $25,000 on hand after receiving $18,760 and spending $8,588.

Republican challenger David Redmond of Mineola had almost $3,100 left after getting $5,243 and spending $2,153.

Democratic Councilwoman Lee Seeman of Great Neck filed a no-activity statement, meaning her campaign spent and received no money in the past six months.

Richard DeMartino, her Republican challenger from New Hyde Park, loaned his campaign $500 and got another $500 from a Mineola accounting firm, Marino, Menz & Co.

Republican Councilman Angelo Ferrara of New Hyde Park had not filed a financial disclosure report as of Tuesday evening. Jerry Vattamala, his Democratic challenger, gave $105 to his own campaign but received no other money.

Democratic Councilwoman Viviana Russell had not filed a report as of Tuesday evening. Republican challenger Ursula Babino had more than $2,200 on hand after receiving $5,280 and spending $3,038.

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