Powered by incumbents, Republicans out-raise Democrats more than three to one in campaign cash in current election cycle

One month before the general election, Republican incumbent Supervisor Sean Walter has nearly five times more cash on hand than his Democratic challenger Laura Jens-Smith, according to campaign finance reports filed last week.

Jens-Smith reported a balance of $5,378 on hand as of Oct. 2, the cut-off day for the 32-day pre-general election campaign finance disclosure report.

Walter reported cash on hand of $26,338 as of the Oct.2 cut-off date.

Republican town board candidates have outpaced Democrats in fundraising this election cycle (beginning in January 2016) by more than three to one. 

But the Republican slate includes the only two incumbents in the town board race, Walter and Giglio, who together have raised more money — almost twice as much, in fact — than the four non-incumbent candidates combined: $120,178 for Walter and Giglio versus $66,786 for Beyrodt, Jens-Smith, Lynch and Kent combined. The incumbents had a head start in fundraising, with their established campaign committees already raising money as early as 2016.

Going into the final month of campaigning, Democratic candidate Michele Lynch had $11,790 cash in her campaign coffers, while her running mate, Catherine Kent had $6,321 in her campaign account, according to their campaign finance disclosure reports.

Giglio, the only incumbent in the four-way race for two council seats, though she’s raised far more than any other council candidate, reported just $3,577 cash on hand as of Oct. 2 — the least of the four people in the running for two open seats. Her running mate, Frank Beyrodt, reported $6,461 in cash on hand.

The Riverhead Republican Committee showed a cash balance of $1,934 as of Oct. 2. The Riverhead Town Democratic Committee as of this date had no report on file in the State Board of Elections online database subsequent to its July periodic report, which showed a closing balance of $661. Committee treasurer Robert Gottschalk said in a phone interview today the report was filed this morning.

The 32-day pre-general election report was due to be filed electronically with the State Board of Elections by Oct. 6 and covers the period from July 14 through Oct. 2.

Walter has raised $70,100 for his re-election bid so far in the current election cycle, while Giglio has raised $50,078 in the current cycle. Their running mate on the Republican town board ticket, Beyrodt, has raised $21,175 so far.

Supervisor candidate Jens-Smith has raised $20,574 so far this election cycle, while her running mates for town board, Lynch and Kent, have raised $17,028 and $8,009, respectively.

Incumbent Highway Superintendent George Woodson, a Democrat, has no campaign finance disclosure reports on file in the state online database subsequent to the January periodic report, which showed a balance of $10,788 cash on hand. He is running for re-election unopposed.

Incumbent town assessor Laverne Tennenberg, a Republican, shows a closing balance of $5,547 on her 32-day pre-general election disclosure report. Her Democratic challenger, Susan Ambro, does not have any reports on file in the state database.

Top contributors (2017 election cycle)

WALTER

$2,000
Belfour Long Island, Ronkonkoma
DGS Group LLC 1162, Hauppauge

$1,000
Henry J. Chlupsa, Smithtown
D&B Engineers LLC Woodbury
Ralph Fasano, Northport
H2M Archeitechs + Engineers, Melville
Ron Harriri, Aquebogue
Island Water Park, Calverton
Dennis M. Kelleher, Centereach
Metro Group Properties Inc, Blue Point
Mivila Foods, Calverton
Luminati Aerospace LLC, Calverton
Praxis Public Relations, Dix Hills
George Regini, Calverton

$500
Apple Honda, Riverhead
Atlantis Marine World LLC, Riverhead
Bay Gas Services Inc., Shirley
Calverton Distr Rte 25 LLC 687 Old Willets Path Hauppauge
Victor Clausen, Wading River
Campolo Middleton Mccormick,LLP Ronkonkoma $500
Farrell Fritz Potical Action Committee
Flora Garsten
Harris Beach PLLC
J King Realty Inc, Holtsville
J Petrocelli Contracting Inc., Ronkonkoma
Jaral East End Hotel Corp, Riverhead
Luminati Aerospace LLC $150
Charles A Martello, Oakland NJ
Colleen O’Brien, Aquebogue
Prime Eleven Tower 687 Old Willets Path $500
Andrew Sabin, New York
Gregory C. Smith, Dix Hills NY
James Terry, E. Northport, $500
Robert G. Terry, Southampton $500
West Rac Contracting Corp., Hauppauge

JENS-SMITH

$1,000
John Coakley, Yonkers
Ira Pittelman, New York NY
Plumbers Local Union #200, Ronkonkoma

$500
Kristen Bodkin, Setauket
William T. Bodkin, Setauket
NRCCNY Non-partisan PAC, Albany
UA Steamfitters LU #638, LI City

GIGLIO

$1,740
Island International Ext Fab LLC, Calverton

$1,680
Riverhead PBA PAC, Riverhead

$1,470
Jaral East End Hotel Corp. Riverhead

$1,255
Paul Carr, Riverhead

$1,000
D&B Engineers, Woodbury
D.F. Stone Contracting Ltd, Medford
John Moran, New York
Joseph Mottola, Massapequa

$840
Mainstream House, Riverhead
Stark Homes Inc., Riverhead

$740
Atlantis Marine World LLC
DGS Group LLC, Hauppauge
William Higbie, Calverton
Maggio Environmental LLC
Radiant Drywall & Insulation Corp., Center Moriches
Wayne Steck, Hauppauge
T. Hayes Plastering, Mastic Beach
The Raynor Group P.E. & L.S. PLLC

$670
Schlegel Construction of M.I. Inc, Remsenburg

$555
BGT Consulting LLC Westhampton Beach
We’ll Floor U Inc, Hampton Bays

$500
Campolo Middleton & Mccormick LLP, Ronkonkoma
Parkland Golf INC, Middle Islan
Suffolk County PBA PAC, Brentwood

BEYRODT

$1,200
City Cider House Calverton

$1,000
Vincent Basso, E Northport
Carol Beyrodt, Mineola
DeLea Sod Farms
Greg Long, White Plains
John Moran, New York
Southold Recycling Cutchogue
The Long Agency, Pleasantville NY
Van de Wetering Greenhouses, Jamesport

$750
Mahoney Associates, Southampton

$500
Patrick Allen, St James
Mark Saporita, Southold
South Shore Office Products, ISlandia
LI Builders PAC, Islandia
Lyle Wells, Riverhead
Oil Heat Institute, Hauppauge

KENT

$1,000
Building & Construction Trades Council PAC
Friends of Kathleen Rice, Mineola
Metallic Lathers Union Local 46, New York

$500
Building & Construction Trades, Hauppauge
UA Steamfitters LU # 638, LI City

LYNCH

$1,000
Richard Brandenstein, Woodbury
Friends Of Kathleen Rice, Mineola
Friends Of Judi Bosworth, Mineola
Metallic Lathers Union Local 46, New York
Theresa Schwartz, Jericho
Sheet Metal Workers LU 28 Political Action, New York

$500
Samuel Chu, Lindenhurst
Adam Haber, Roslyn
Friends Of Judi Bosworth, Mineola
IBT LOCAL 282, Lake Success
Local 1102 RWDSU, Woodbury
Long Island Federation of Labor Cope, Hauppauge
Lumbers Local 200 PAC, Ronkonkoma
Steamfitters Local Union 638 PAC, LI City
UFCW Local 1500, Westbury