Francesa donates to Phillips race

Chris Adams

The sports radio host Mike Francesa, a Flower Hill resident, donated $2,000 to Elaine Phillips’ run for state Senate, Newsday reported.

Francesa is known as the co-host of the long-running sports commentary show “Mike and the Mad Dog” on New York City’s WFAN radio station, which ended in 2008. He now hosts his own sports talk show, “Mike’s On,” on the  station.

Francesa is a registered independent, but took a political stance with his contribution to the Republican Flower Hill mayor, who is seeking the 7th District seat Jack Martins is vacating.

The donation from Francesa is listed on a database from the New York State Board of Election filings.

Francesa also attended a fundraiser in June for the Phillips campaign, according to the Newsday article.

“She is my neighbor and a very nice woman,” Francesa said. “She was a very attentive and efficient mayor.”

Newsday said Francesa hasn’t made contributions to political candidates in the past, but there is record he donated $1,000 to the Republican National Committee in 2003.

Phillips announced her candidacy in May, after which she received backing from the Republican Party. Martins is leaving his position in the state Senate to seek the 3rd District seat in Congress  being vacated by Rep. Steve Israel.

In November, Phillips will face the Democratic nominee, Adam Haber, a Roslyn school board trustee and former independent commodities trader making his second run for the Senate.

Phillips also received public support in July from a civic leader, Bill Corbett, who heads Citizens Against Rail Expansion, a group opposing the $1.5 billion construction of a third track by the Long Island Rail Road through several North Hempstead villages.

Corbett said another Republican in the seat would help block the project. Other members of the group criticized Corbett for the endorsement, saying the group should remain nonpartisan.

Phillips couldn’t be reached for comment on Francesa’s contribution.

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