Republican Chris Callaghan has drawn extra donations since Alan Hevesi (above) chauffeur scandal broke, state GOP says.
Posted on 09/30/2006 11:37:15 AM PDT by neverdem
DAILY NEWS ALBANY BUREAU CHIEF
Republicans are gloating that Democratic state Controller Alan Hevesi's chauffeur scandal is driving up donations to his GOP opponent.
Chris Callaghan began the race with only a paltry campaign war chest but has seen a sharp uptick in contributions as a result of the revelation that Hevesi used a state employee to chauffeur his ailing wife, Carol, Republican officials said yesterday.
"We're just now seeing a huge increase in donations for Chris," said state GOP Executive Director Ryan Moses. "People are telling us they are very upset that Alan Hevesi stole money from New York taxpayers and only paid money back when he was caught."
The Republicans plan to use the dough for televised attack ads against Hevesi.
The impact of the chauffeur scandal remains uncertain, as no statewide polls have been released since it hit the headlines a week ago.
But more problems erupted for Hevesi yesterday when the Daily News' political blog, the Daily Politics, showcased a 2005 Hevesi press release in which the controller chided a village treasurer from upstate Little Valley for allegedly padding her travel reimbursement requests to the tune of $3,153. Hevesi announced last year he was referring that matter for possible criminal prosecution.
Hevesi, who has stayed clear of reporters this week, has told state ethics watchdogs that he is paying the state more than $82,000 in reimbursement for having the staff aide ferry his wife around for the past three years.
He had queried ethics officials about whether his wife was entitled to such a driver, but has admitted he should have made the reimbursement earlier.
Meanwhile, The News learned that Callaghan bought a ticket to a Republican dinner in upstate Rotterdam earlier this year with a $100 check that bounced.
Callaghan's son, John, a tugboat pilot, fell on the sword for writing the rubber check, telling The News he is a father of four and has trouble making ends meet. "I may have inherited my dad's love of public service but not necessarily his accounting proficiency," John Callaghan said.
The chauffeur flap reverberated in the governor's race, with underdog Republican candidate John Faso demanding that Hevesi resign from office immediately. But Democratic gubernatorial front-runner Eliot Spitzer continued to back Hevesi's reelection candidacy, although he conceded his ally's conduct was "wrong."
Black Incomes Rise Above Whites in Queens (NY)
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Is it me or are there more scandals this year before an election than in the past?
Maybe it's you? 8^)
I don't think it'll make a huge difference.
IIRC, Hevesi pulled similar crap when he was NYC comptroller. Callaghan might be the only pubbie to win statewide.
He'll run behind Elliot Spitzer. But IMHO, it'll take more to actually oust him.
Is everybody forgetting that Hevesi is the guy who introduced Chuck Schumer at a fundraiser last year by saying that he would like 'to put a bullet behind Bush's eyes'???
Faso calls for Hevesi's resignation (Faso R,C nominee for governor, Hevesi D comptroller in NY)
It's mentioned right there.
Thanks for the ping!
My bad, i looked at the name of the link and assumed that it wasn't the same thing. You beat me to it. Kudos for remembering this.
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