By Karen Frantz
With the state Senate primaries looming, City Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) and Forest Hills attorney Juan Reyes are ramping up their campaigns to win Queens’ 15th District.
Ulrich, who is running in the Republican and Independence Party primaries, has earned and spent the most money, according to the latest filings with the city Campaign Finance Board for the 2012 period ended Aug. 25. He currently has $352,758 in his coffers, having raised $37,150 in contributions and spent a total of $69,837. His opening balance was $385,445.
Reyes, who is running in the Republican primary, has a total of $22,117 left in his war chest. He started with an opening balance of $37,481 and raised an additional $9,800 in contributions. His expenses have totaled $25,163.
Campaign finance records could not be found for Independence Party candidate Joe Tiraco. The winner will face state Sen. Joseph Addabbo (D-Howard Beac) in November.
In the latest 32-day pre-primary report ending Aug. 25, Ulrich’s largest contributions have mainly come from real estate. He received a total of $21,650 from real estate interests, including $10,000 from the 211 East 70 Street LP, one of the largest real estate portfolios in New York City, which is owned by the Rudin family.
He also garnered another $4,800 from labor unions. The biggest contribution was $2,500 from the Plumbers Local Union, located in Howard Beach. Other labor interests that contributed to Ulrich’s campaign include the Uniformed Fire Fighters Association FirePAC and the New York State Laborers’ PAC.
Ulrich’s corporate contributions total $1,000, coming from the K&M Improvement Corp. and Martin Associations Inc., both based in Garden City, L.I.
He also received a $7,500 donation from Friends for the Election of Dean Skelos and Ulrich’s representative also confirmed that the Republican State Senate Committee donated $250,000 to the campaign, which was included as part of Ulrich’s opening balance.
Many individual contributors to Ulrich’s campaign come from outside Queens, including the Bronx and Nassau and Westchester counties. He received $550 from Queens individual donors, plus another $200 from a Flushing-based partnership contributor. In total, he received $11,900 from individual and partnership donations.
According to campaign finance records, Ulrich hired Michael Michel, president of Christ the King High School, for $10,000 as a consultant to run a month-long petition operation.
He also hired Margaret Ognibene, wife of former Republican Councilman Thomas Ognibene, as the campaign treasurer. Ulrich’s spokeswoman said her weekly pay is $1,500 and campaign records show she has been paid a total of $4,393 divided into two payments.
He also paid $3,803 to the Multi Media in Whitestone, affiliated with the Queens Tribune, for printing office supplies, including letterhead and envelopes.
Juan Reyes has received $600 from corporate donations, including a $500 contribution from the Trinity Realty Group and $100 from the Highbridge Development BR, LLC.
The majority of the money he raised came from individual contributions at $9,200. All of the contributions he received from Queens came from individuals living in Forest Hill at $2,075. He raised $2,925 from contributors who live in Manhattan, and a single contribution from one person living in the Bronx. He also had a few contributions from individuals who live as far away as Florida and Arizona, with those totaling $500.
Reyes has spent $8,929 on consulting fees, with most of that going to consultant Gerry O’Brien. Reyes also spent a large sum of money on petitions at $3,965. He also has spent $1,254 on fund-raisers.
Reach reporter Karen Frantz by e-mail at kfrantz@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4538.
