The New York City Campaign Finance Board has reported campaign spending by office and candidate for the 2009 election cycle. Final figures for 2009 races are due November 30, 2009 (although funds received between November 27 and January 11, 2010 are required to be reported to the Board by January 15, 2010).
The two-bit billionaire, Michael Bloomberg, had spent $83,440,434 on his mayoral campaign through October 23, 2009, well on his way to an utterly obscene $100 million expenditure. In contrast, during the same time period, Democratic opponent William Thompson spent only $6,647,347 (having received but $9,139,325 in a combination of private and public funds).
More interesting is a look at the campaign expenditures by the candidates in the various competitive Queens and Staten Island City Council races. They show that money isn't everything in a quest for electoral success. Also important to note are the city-wide campaign expenditures for public office.
For instance, in the 19th councilmatic district, Republican Dan Halloran spent $93,248 (out of $150,070 contributed) in a winning effort. In contrast, his opponent, Kevin Kim, (a non public finance participant) raised $436,848 and spent $395,976, over four times what the GOP candidate expended in a nonetheless losing effort (all through October 23, 2009).
In the 20th District, GOP candidate Peter Koo (a non public finance participant) raised $313,860 ($205,000 of his own money) expending $270,220 of that amount in his victorious effort. In contrast, his Democratic opponent Yen Chou (also a non public finance participant), spent $377,024 (having raised $442,801), approximately 40% more to little or no effect (all through October 23, 2009).
In the 32nd Councilmatic District, winning GOP incumbent Eric Ulrich expended only $51,623 (having raised $146,845) to beat Frank Gulluscio, who spent $67,283 (both public finance participants - through October 23, 2009).
In Staten Island, incumbent James Odo spent $99,864 to retain his seat in the 50th Councilmatic District over James Pocchia who expended $114,787 in a losing effort. In the 51st District, Vincent Ignizio expended $104,568 to retain his seat over Janine Materna, who spent $63,494 out of $132,383 amassed (all public finance participants - both races through October 23, 2009).
Demonstrating, however, how pathetic the GOP in New York City really is, city-wide Comptroller candidate Joseph Mendola had amassed only $20,838 in campaign contributions, spending $18,449 of that through October 23, 2009. In contrast, victorious Democratic candidate John Liu spent almost $5 million. Losing Democratic primary candidates David Weprin, Melinda Katz and David Yassky all each spent between $3 million to $5 million in their efforts to be elected.
GOP candidate Alex Zablocki was even poorer as shown by his finance report for his run for Public Advocate, expending only $11,047 after receiving $17,072 in contributions through October 23, 2009. Again, in contrast, Democrats Bill de Blasio and Eric Goia spent almost $4 million each for the position.
It is absolutely clear that such funding for city-wide GOP candidates is not simply a disgrace, but a recipe for losing election after election. In fact, the GOP should not run candidates unless it intends to properly fund their campaigns.
Coming closer to home, unsuccessful GOP Queens Borough President candidate and Urban Elephant Robert Hornak, curiously (based on his political views) a public finance participant, spent $14,731 (out of $28,963 raised) through October 23, 2009. In contrast, Democratic incumbent Helen Marshall expended $426,728 to retain her seat, almost 29 times as much as Hornak.
Last but not least, the immortal Jay Golub, in his aborted run for the seat in the 29th Councilmatic District, entirely self-funded (!) his own campaign to the tune of $100 (yes, one hundred dollars), expending an equal amount in his quixotic (and, as usual, unsuccessful) quest for public office.
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