State Sen. Marty Golden’s campaign contribution list lit up with a unique gift: $1,237.50 worth of cigars.
Records show the Bay Ridge Republican accepted the odd in-kind contribution in July from supporter Scott Bendett, who owns Habana Premium Cigars in Albany and has been an outspoken critic of the state’s increasing cigar taxes over the years.
Bendett showered Golden’s re-election campaign with the gift one year after the senator sponsored a bill to cap state cigar taxes at the lesser of $1 per smoke or 75 percent of the wholesale price.
Golden also spent $972 on a fund-raiser at Bendett’s shop in August.
Golden noted the growing taxes on cigars, as well as Internet and out-of-state sales, when he introduced the legislation, which is stuck in a Senate committee.
“The cigars were given to participants at Senator Golden’s golf outing that was held at Wiltwyck Country Club in Kingston, NY. The contribution was made by Scott Bendett, who is a supporter of the senator,” a Golden campaign spokesman told The Post.