By Howard Koplowitz
State Sen. Frank Padavan (R-Bellerose) has outraised his opponent, former City Councilman Tony Avella, by about $15,000 and spent about $40,000 more than Avella since the beginning of the year, according to state Campaign Finance Board records.
Padavan has raised $165,910 so far, including $11,269 from donors who gave the senator less than $100, while Avella has drawn $149,663.69 in contributions.
Padavan’s largest donation was from the state Senate Republican Campaign Committee — the political arm of the Senate Republicans — which gave him $10,000, followed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who gave $9,500.
MacAndrews and Forbes Group LLC, a company run by billionaire investor Ronald Perelman, contributed $5,000 to Padavan’s campaign.
Also giving $5,000 were Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos’ (R-Rockville Centre) campaign committee, Jamaica resident James Williams and Gristedes supermarkets owner John Catsimatidis.
Most of Avella’s large contributions came from the borough’s elected officials, political action committees and unions that are supporting him against Padavan.
The largest contributions came from state Assemblyman Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria), who is running for the Senate, and Friends of Carl — the campaign committee for Sen. Carl Kruger (D-Brooklyn).
Both Gianaris and Kruger gave Avella $9,500.
The state Democratic Senate Campaign Committee — the political arm of the Senate Democrats — contributed $5,800 to Avella.
Of the $141,104 spent by Padavan so far, his largest expense has been $43,064 for campaign literature, followed by $20,390 for fund-raisers.
Padavan’s campaign spent more than $36,000 on “other” expenses, including $400 for a pianist to play at a fund-raiser.
Campaign finance records showed Padavan runs his own campaign, while Avella hired the Parkside Group, political consultants, to manage his.
Campaign consultants were by far Avella’s largest expense at $54,422, followed by office expenses of $18,904 and $7,651 for fund-raising.
While Avella’s campaign has not spent any money on campaign literature, it does not mean mailings are not going out on his behalf.
A recent mailing criticizing Padavan as being “out of touch with our community” hit mailboxes in the 11th Senate District, which covers Bellerose, Bayside, Whitestone, College Point, Little Neck, Auburndale, Douglaston and part of Queens Village, but the mailing address showed it had been put out by the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee.
The piece claims there are “Two Frank Padavans” — “Republican Frank Padavan” and “Albany Frank Padavan” — and blames the senator on the budget that was approved four months late and accuses him of voting “to shortchange New York City on funding ….”
DSCC spokesman Austin Shafran declined to disclose the amount of funds the DSCC has spent on behalf of Avella.
“Tony Avella is one of our top races and we will fully invest the support necessary for him to win in November,” Shafran said.
Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at hkoplowitz@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4573.
