By Anna Gustafson and Howard Koplowitz
State Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi (D-Forest Hills) entered the last throes of the primary campaign with more than twice as much money in his coffers than his Democratic challenger Joe Fox in the race for the 28th Assembly District, according to their last filings with the state Board of Elections.
Assemblyman Michael Miller (D-Woodhaven), fending off a challenge by Community Board 9 member Nick Comaianni, has a 20-1 fund-raising advantage over his opponent in the last days of the campaign, the records showed.
Hevesi has a little more than $41,000 on hand and raised $13,750 in the last filing period, which ran from mid-August to the end of August. Fox, an attorney and member of Community Board 6, has about $16,669 on hand and raised about $14,330 in the last filing period, for which candidates submitted reports Friday.
The 28th Assembly District covers Forest Hills, Rego Park, Middle Village and Glendale.
Of the $13,750 Hevesi raised, the majority of it came from unions, political action committees and other organizations. The Empire State Pride Agenda PAC handed Hevesi his largest chunk of change: $3,800. The Empire State Pride Agenda is a statewide educational and political advocacy organization that works toward equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
The $14,330 Fox raised included a little more than $8,800 in loans from himself and about $5,000 from individuals. Richard Koral, of South Salem, N.Y., in Westchester County, gave $1,000, the largest donation Fox landed from an individual. Jack Gostl of Forest Hills gave $500, the second largest amount.
In the 38th Assembly District, Miller has $20,920 in cash on hand compared to just $1,903 for Comaianni.
Miller raised $8,700 and spent $5,843, while Comaianni took in $2,025 and spent $4,067.
All but $300 raised by Miller came from corporations, political action committees and other elected officials’ campaign accounts.
Miller took in $6,700 from corporations and PACs, including $2,000 from the Real Estate Board and $1,000 each from Sterling Mets and Plumbers #1 NYC.
The assemblyman also raised $1,700 from two of his colleagues — $1,000 from Rory Lancman Election Committee and $700 from Friends of Grace Meng.
Of the $5,843 spent by Miller, the lion’s share — $3,910 — of his spending went to The Parkside Group, a political consulting firm that is managing his campaign.
Comaianni raised all of his $2,025 from individuals, with the largest — $400 — coming from Glendale resident Tonia Sciarrattta.
Comaianni’s largest expenditures included $1,088 to Shiro of Japan in Woodhaven for fund-raising and $1,000 for rent of his Glendale campaign office.
Miller is also facing a primary for the Conservative Party line against Donna Marie Caltabiano, executive director of the Forest Park Senior Center.
