Move over Gov. David Paterson. And stand back, Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi. Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy reported yesterday that he has nearly $3.3 million, more that his fellow Democrats.
To be exact, Levy filed a disclosure form showing $3,299,929.04, after raising $425,841 in the past half year, and spending $167,000. He made $47,000 in interest alone.
Of course, Levy’s numbers are an accumulation of four years of fundraising and a result of having no opponent for his re-election bid last year. Paterson, who reported $3.2 million, had only $114,000 in his campaign fund in January. Suozzi has $1.6 million but also spent heavily in an ill-fated governor's primary two years ago.
Levy’s biggest expenses were $40,000 in connection with his annual golf outing at Cherry Creek Golf Links in Riverhead in May, $25,000 for fundraiser Anne McShane, a veteran party operative, and $5,400 for Cleveland Smith Associates, a consulting group owned by Michael Dawidziak.
Levy’s biggest donor continues to be Gary Melius, Oheka Castle owner and senior advisor to Independence Party of America chairman Frank MacKay, who gave Levy $50,000 during his first term and $10,000 in the last six months. Other heavy hitters include Staller Associates and Duffy, Duffy and Burdo, which each gave $5,000, and E.F. Howell Co., which gave $3,800.
Rick Brand