Aubertine May Pick Up Golisano’s Support, Cash

Darrel Aubertine spent a lot of other peoples’ money to get elected State Senator back in February. He may soon benefit from another infusion of cash, from just one person, aimed at keeping him in the Senate.

The political website, The Capitol reports that a source inside the operation of Rochester billionaire Tom Golisano says he “is leaning towards supporting Sen. Darrel Aubertine” in his bid to win a full term in November. The support will come with money, and strings, attached.

Golisano, who once ran for Governor on the Independence Party line, last week showed off a $5 million check at a press conference. He plans to use that money to support candidates for state office who support what he calls the Responsible New York Agenda:

Responsible Budgets (Budget increases limited to the rate of inflation)
End to Unfunded Mandates
Property Tax Reform
Campaign and Election Reform (including redistricting reform)
Government Employee Compensation Commiserate with Private Sector
Equitable Distribution of Economic Development Resources Statewide
Government Transparency
End Back Door Borrowing

Tom Golisano Golisano said he will back political candidates regardless of their party affiliations and will back some Republicans and some Democrats.

The Capitol, which initially broke the Golisano story, reports that Golisano will back three Democrats who are seeking to unseat three incumbent Republican State Senators in Monroe and Erie counties. The report cites a source inside the Golisano camp who says it’s likely that, along with Aubertine, Golisano will fund a primary challenger to a Democratic state assemblyman in Buffalo.

The infusion of cash to Aubertine, if it happens, would make a significant difference in the Fall elections. Aubertine won the special election in February over Pulaski Assemblyman Will Barclay, in one of the most expensive state senate races ever. Each side spent more than $2 million, most of coming from their respective parties, for massive TV, radio and direct mail blitzes. Aubertine edged Barclay on the strength of votes in St. Lawrence County, which had been part of his Assembly district. He won Jefferson County by almost the exact margin that he lost Oswego County, where he had been unknown before the special election.

This time around, there’s likely to be much less money from the two parties. Democrats are trying to take control of the State Senate and need only to hold the seats they have while taking two seats from the Republicans. A handful of Senate races are ranked by experts as competitive.

There’s no ranking yet on Aubertine’s bid for a full term. He faces Watertown lawyer David Renzi.

The Capitol reports that Golisano would like to affect the outcome of races in New York City and on Long Island, and the $5 million is just the start of the operation:

“The source said Golisano is in the process of setting up a statewide organization and is planning to interview consultants and pollsters to work with his effort. His $5 million contribution from last week is only a start in his monetary effort. For the candidates he backs, the source said Golisano is planning television and radio advertisements, newspaper ads and mailers.”

Comments

One Response to “Aubertine May Pick Up Golisano’s Support, Cash”

nelson howard on July 15th, 2008 8:58 am

I would say it puts David Renzi at a very distinct disadvantage if Tom Golisano supports Darrel Aubertine with a whole lot of money. What Renzi would need would be a supporter with that kind of wealth or a whole lot of supporters with less financial resources. Actually, I like that idea somewhat better. Having a lot of supporters shows a grass roots foundation that has a more democratic feel to it.
That’s really all that politics is, is money, have enough you win. It doesn’t have anything at all to do with most qualified. It is a popularity contest created in the media rather than personable qualities that candidates may have. The more money one contributor gives the more the candidate would be predisposed to advance the agendas of that supporter and putting the issues that a great many other supporters with lesser means, may have.