Four democratic candidates in Onondaga County will return a portion of their donations from the New York State Democratic Committee after accusations of illegal transfers.
Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner’s political action committee, Promise PAC, gave $15,000 to the NYSDC with a recommendation to support four candidates in the Syracuse area: Gwyn Mannion, running for county legislator, Marty Masterpole for Syracuse city auditor, Helen Hudson and Bob Dougherty, both running for Syracuse Common Council.
According to the Board of Elections campaign finance disclosure reports, the NYSDC transferred $4,000 to Hudson and Masterpole, and $3,500 to Mannion and Dougherty. The transfer was done within days of the PAC’s contribution to the NYSDC.
Miner has become the subject of ire regarding the donations to the committee through her PAC, alleging she circumvented campaign finance laws in order to give additional funds to the four democratic candidates.
Today, however, Miner announced that all four candidates have agreed to return the difference between what Miner, as a PAC, can give the candidates and what they received.
“My advocacy and role has resulted in the exact opposite of what was wanted,” Miner said.
The controversy surrounding her political donations comes one day before a hotly contested election. Republican Party Chair Tom Dadey has also filed a formal complaint with the board of elections regarding the accusations.
“I want to be clear, there is nothing wrong, illegal, or in fact, new about campaign contributions to the state party from a PAC, contributions from the state party to the local candidates, or the fact that I recommended candidates to state officials,” Miner said. She added that she has not been contacted regarding any investigations into the transfers.
