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State Assemblymen Nelson Albano and Matt Milam far outpaced their Republican challengers in fundraising this period, thanks to major boosts from organized labor, political action committees and their own state and county parties.

Milam and Albano, D-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic, raised $650,672 over the last reporting period and have collected $1,123,355 overall, according to campaign finance reports released Wednesday. Yet they have spent more than they have taken in, with $678,775 spent this past period and $1,199,898 total.

"The fact that Albano and Milam have spent more than they've raised to run their campaign strikes me as a perfect metaphor for what created the situation that's driving people to leave this state in droves," said Bill Pascoe, a consultant for Donohue and McCann. "If they show no fiscal discipline in running their campaign, why would you expect them to show any discipline in Trenton?"

It is not uncommon for campaigns to pay outstanding bills after Election Day.

Their opponents, Dennis Township attorney Mike Donohue and Ocean City real estate agent John McCann, raised $346,075 over the last period and $545,281 overall. They spent $365,057 last period and $515,616 total.

Their race in the First Legislative District appears to be arguably the most competitive in the state, with both parties targeting it for a win and spending accordingly. The district spans all of Cape May County, eastern Cumberland County and small parts of Atlantic County. Historically, the district has tilted heavily Republican, but Democrats now hold all three legislative seats.

The Democrats have brought in mostly big financial contributions from political action committees, including:

$16,400 from the New Jersey Regional Council of Carpenters

$8,200 from the New Jobs PAC

$5,000 from the New Jersey Association for Justice

$5,500 from the Electon Fund of the Realtors PAC

$5,200 from the Democratic Governors Association Labor PAC

$5,000 from Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 322 this period and $6,200 total

$10,000 from Communication Workers of America Local 1040

$5,000 from the Southern New Jersey Labor Advocacy Fund

and a combined $36,400 from the campaigns of four northern and central New Jersey Democratic legislators

The campaign also has reported a significant amount of in-kind contributions from state and county party agencies, including: $211,805 from the New Jersey Democratic State Committee, another $321,550 from the Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee and $160,750 from Cape May County's Democratic Party.

Much of that money has been spent on mailers, printing costs, advertisements and payroll for campaign staff, according to the report. The Democrats are currently running ads both on television and radio.

"Obviously we're one of the biggest races in the state of New Jersey, so there's going to be a lot of money spent by the state committee," said Allison Murphy, chief of staff for Albano and Milam who has taken leave from her legislative job to work on their campaign.

The Republicans, in contrast, received most of their funding from Republican organizations, such as the combined $386,812 they have collected thus far from the Assembly Republican Victory '09 and the Senate Republican Majority PACs, each of which is listed at the same address in Colonia, Middlesex County. They also received $26,000 from five Republican state legislators based in northern and central New Jersey.

The only major industry or labor PAC to give them money this past period was the Election Fund of the Realtors, which gave them $6,000.

The campaigns were required to file their financial reports Friday, which was the 11-day pre-election deadline, and the information became public Wednesday. They also must file reports 20 days after the election.

Contact Daniel Walsh:

856-649-2074

DWalsh@pressofac.com

1 comment:

• firstamend (5) posts 10:24 pm

  Pascoe is crying about money spent? Is he serious? The only money that should not be spent is the money that Donohue and McCann are paying him for his services. Once again Pascoe is running the republican ticket in the 1st District into the round. Maybe Pascoe should help the republicans by not taking his salary .

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