Campaign cash rolls in ahead of special election for Queens borough president
/
Former Queens prosecutor James Quinn raised the most money among Queens borough president candidates during the last filing period. Eagle photo by David Brand
By Victoria Merlino and Jonathan Sperling
Conservative ex-prosecutor James Quinn led all candidates for Queens borough president in fundraising during the last financial disclosure period, according to reports published this week.
Quinn took in a total of $66,342 from Jan. 12 to Feb. 17, according to his filing with the Campaign Finance Board, including $175 from Councilmember Robert Holden, $750 from former Acting Queens District Attorney John Ryan and $100 from former Brooklyn Councilmember Vincent Gentile.
Quinn’s law-and-order campaign has appealed to a wide swath of prominent local conservatives and law enforcement leaders, including the Correction Officers Benevolent Association, who endorsed him earlier this month. Holden and Quinn have also formed a team of sorts. The pair hosted a meeting to rail against a new state bail reform measure in December 2019 and many of Holden’s staffers and family members have contributed to Quinn’s campaign..
Councilmember Donovan Richards raised $60,170, the second-highest total among the six candidates.
After calling on developers to “cut a check” at a candidate forum on Feb. 4, the real estate community responded by contributing at least $8,600 to the campaign. Notable funders included three officials with The Related Companies, including billionaire founder Stephen Ross; members of the Muss family, who own the Forest Hills-based Muss Development, and F&T Group Vice President Helen Lee. F&T Group is one of the three development firms that are looking to build the controversial, $1 billion development on Flushing Creek.
Richards’ fellow Queens Councilmembers Barry Grodenchik and Paul Vallone each contributed $175 to his campaign. Councilmember Peter Koo chipped in $250.
Richards also received $100 from Rudolph Giuliani — the deputy director of the Mayor's Office of Housing Recovery, not the ex-New York City mayor-turned-Trump pal.
Former Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley raised $47,372 in contributions during the same period. But she was forced to refund $149,905 that she received earlier in the campaign in order to qualify for the city’s matching funds program. Contributions are capped at $750 for candidates who apply to receive matching funds.
Crowley and Councilmember Costa Constantinides were the only candidates who qualified in the matching funds program last period. This period, Crowley, Constantinides and Richards all recieved matching funds.
Constantinides netted $22,105.20 in contributions during the most recent filing period. Prominent contributors included Brooklyn State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, who gave $175, and listed his occupation as a self-employed attorney.
Gounardes’ wife, Melanie, an associate vice president at strategic communications firm Prosek Partners, contributed $75.
Constantinides also received a $175 contribution from Manhattan Councilmember Helen Rosenthal. The two have worked together on a three-bill legislative package, known as The Renewable Rikers Act, which would install green infrastructure on Rikers Island.
Both Andrew Gounardes and Rosenthal formally endorsed Constantinides earlier this year.
Tech entrepreneur Dao Yin raised $29,133 during the last filing period, and police reform advocate Anthony Miranda raised $27,765.
The Queens borough president special election will take place on March 24.
