TWO candidates seek ing the endorse ment of the Work ing Families Party each donated $10,000 to the party last year far more than they had ever given before.
Campaign filings show that City Councilman John Liu (D-Queens), who recently announced that he was entering the comptroller’s race, chipped in his 10 grand on Oct. 3 for a table at the party’s annual fund-raiser.
The most Liu had given to the party in any previous year was $1,000.
Councilman Bill de Blasio (D-Brooklyn), who is running for public advocate and was endorsed by the WFP nine days ago, wrote his five-figure check on Oct. 14.
That was 40 times as much as his last donation of $250 in 2006.
“It’s enough to raise eyebrows,” one insider said. “It raises questions.”
But everyone involved insists there’s no connection between the money and the endorsements.
“Bill de Blasio was helping us mount our grassroots campaign to keep term limits in the voters’ hands,” said Dan Cantor, the WFP’s executive director.
“We were up against some very long odds and very deep pockets, but those who were brave enough to fight for the voting public helped make sure our campaign got off the ground.”
Landing the WFP’s endorsement is an arduous process that requires approval of two-thirds of its union members, said de Blasio.
“It’s extremely difficult. It has nothing to do with whether you agreed with them on one issue or helped them on one issue or not,” he said.
Similarly, Liu said he had always been a WFP supporter and was happy to write a larger check than usual when that request came in.
No date has been set for when the party will select its nominee for comptroller.
De Blasio and Liu agreed that the WFP carries enormous clout when it comes to influencing Democratic primary voters.
“It is the progressive Good Housekeeping seal of approval,” de Blasio said.