Manhattan Assemblyman Scott Stringer is leading the fund-raising race in the battle for public advocate – with the help of the wife of Mayor Giuliani’s chief political operative, according to records released yesterday.
Stringer, a Democrat, raised $232,133 over the past six months in his quest to succeed Mark Green. During that period, he paid fund-raiser Suri Kasirer $31,000 to help him fill his campaign war chest.
Kasirer, a major Democratic consultant and lobbyist, is married to Bruce Teitelbaum, the director of Giuliani’s political action committee and the mayor’s former Senate campaign manager.
Stringer – who reported having $427,134 in his campaign coffers – received donations from Giuliani’s former Transportation Commissioner Lee Sander ($250), former Brooklyn Assemblyman Jules Polonetsky ($1,000) and political consultant Mark Guma ($250).
Former Parks Commissioner Betsy Gotbaum raked in $199,317 during the same period with help from Democratic operative Harold Ickes ($500), Mets co-owner Fred Wilpon ($1,000), socialite Brooke Astor ($1,000) and designer Oscar de la Renta ($4,500).
But Gotbaum also spent much of what she raised – $186,000 – including thousands of dollars in payments to consultant Hank Sheinkopf, who also is Green’s media adviser.
Activist lawyer Norman Siegel, who heads the New York Civil Liberties Union, also had a productive fund-raising period, raking in $187,523 for his campaign.
Brooklyn Councilman Steve DiBrienza trailed the pack, bringing in $89,313.
The battle for endorsements began in the mayoral race yesterday, with Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer announcing he had received the backing of Rep. Jose Serrano of The Bronx, and Brooklyn Reps. Ed Towns and Nydia Velazquez.