By Howard Koplowitz
U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-Bayside) has raised more than $839,000 for his re-election campaign this election cycle and spent more than $864,219, but he is in the green with $1.139 million in cash on hand.
Ackerman has taken $555,671 from individuals and $257,740 from political action committees from 2009 until June 30 this year, according to Federal Election Commission records.
In the latest filing quarter from April to June 30, the congressman raised $338,000. Most of Ackerman’s contributions were donated in 2009, the records showed.
Among Ackerman’s largest donors is Bert Brodsky, chairman of Sandata Technologies, a Port Washington, L.I.-based company.
Brodsky, a Sands Point, L.I., resident, gave a total of $10,000 to the congressman’s campaign in four separate amounts on June 8, 2009, according to campaign finance records.
Ackerman has no opposition in September’s Democratic primary, but two Republicans — Dr. James Milano and attorney Liz Berney — are running to challenge him in November.
Thomas Chen, owner of Whitestone-based Crystal Windows, gave Ackerman $4,200 on June 22, 2009, records showed.
A Crystal Windows executive vice president, Mao-Chi Chen, contributed $4,800 to Ackerman’s campaign on that date.
Campaign finance records showed Ackerman received a lot of monetary support from the Asian community, including former Flushing state Assemblyman Jimmy Meng, who contributed $2,400 to the congressman’s campaign on June 10, 2009.
Developers were among Ackerman’s biggest donors.
Joseph Muss, a principal of the Flushing-based Muss Development Co., contributed $3,400 to Ackerman in June 2009.
Joshua Muss, a partner with Allied Jamaica, gave the congressman $3,500 on June 17, 2009.
Ackerman received more than half of his contributions from individuals.
Political action committees represented more than $250,000 of the congressman’s contributions.
Ackerman received $10,000 from the American Crystal Sugar Co. Political Action Committee: $5,000 April 23, 2009, and another $5,000 March 4, 2010.
Also contributing $10,000 was the New York Life Insurance PAC — two $5,000 amounts May 1, 2009.
Other large PAC donors included the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which gave Ackerman $6,000, and the International Association of Firefighters Interested in Registration and Education, which contributed $5,000.
Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at hkoplowitz@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4573.
