The first round of campaign filings for the 54th Assembly District gives a glimpse into the proxy battle between three of Brooklyn’s power brokers.
deidra towns, raised $93,915, the most of any candidate, and also had the most corporate donations with $20,650.
Her father, Congressman Ed Towns, gave $1,000 from his personal account and $3,000 from his reelection fund, and appears to have leaned on some friends in the Congressional Black Caucus.
Illinois Congressman Bobby Rush, South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn, Missouri Congressman Lacy Clay Jr. and New Jersey Congressman Don Payne each gave $1,000 from their campaign funds.
Chirlane McCray, who is married to Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, gave $250 to Ms. Towns’ campaign. De Blasio won his seat in 2009 with significant help from the Working Families Party, which has backed one of Towns’ opponents, Jesus Gonzalez.
Former Democratic District Leader Steve Cohn, whose son Warren worked for Towns, gave $500.
Rafael Espinal, who serves as City Council member Erik Dilan’s chief of staff and is being supported by Democratic chairman Vito Lopez, raised $70,165, with $15,850 in corporate donations.
New York State Senator Mike Gianaris, from Astoria, gave $3,800 from his campaign fund. Angela Battaglia, Lopez’s girlfriend, donated $200. Citizens for Dilan gave $3,800.
Mr. Espinal collected a significant sum from real estate. His largest corporate donation is $4,100 from Green Star Builders LLC.
Jesus Gonzalez raised a total of $78,650 with 405 transactions from individual donors. Congresswoman Nydia Velasquez gave $4,100 from her reelection campaign. District Leader Lincoln Restler donated $250 – and his parents gave $500. City Council member Charles Barron and his wife, Inez, each gave $250. The candidate himself gave the campaign $27.
