Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy may be backing Assembly primary challenger Waldo Cabrera, but it is Suffolk Demcoratic chairman Richard Schaffer who is putting up money to help incumbent Assemb. Philip Ramos hold on to his seat.
Schaffer has loaned Ramos $14,500 from the county Democratic Committee, which accounts for more than Ramos’ fundraising edge over Cabrera. Levy, who blames Ramos for holding up Suffolk’s sales tax extension last year, has appeared with Cabrera and made him an unpaid emissary for his office, but so far has given him nothing.
The Ramos filing shows that he has raised $50,231 in the past six months and has $24,700 on hand to battle for his seat. Cabrera, mewanwhile has raised $27,959, including a $10,000 loan he has made to his own campaign and has $13,200 on hand.
Rick Brand
Besides the party loan, Ramos has gotten 14 donations from various police union groups totalling $4,000, another $3,800 from SEIU/1199, which represents health workers, and $1,500 from the Suffolk Association of Municipal Employees. Ramos’ largest expense was $19,500 for a poll by Kiley and Co. of Boston.
Schaffer said their difference on Ramos have not affected the “strong relationship” between himself and Levy. “I understand and respect his view and he understands and respect mine,” he said. “No one ever said we would agree 100 percent of the time.”
Comments (1)
It sounds like Ramos is in trouble.