Tim Wu must be a financial magician.
The candidate for lieutenant governor reported spending “zero” dollars even as he traveled around the state over the last three weeks. The running mate of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Zephyr Teachout also reported receiving just contributions of just $130 in his pre-11 day primary campaign financial statement.
Under state election law, running mates for governor and lieutenant governor actually compete in separate races on the ballot. They must submit separate campaign filings.
The law permits Teachout to pick up $19,500 of Wu’s campaign costs. But Teachout would have to report the expense in her campaign report and Wu would have to disclose the financial support as an “in-kind” contribution.
Neither reported such cost-sharing arrangement appeared in their latest filings.
“All contributions — whether they’re hard dollars or in-kind contributions from regular donors or a political ally — must be fully disclosed with the Board of Elections,” said election lawyer Jerry Goldfeder.
The sketchy reporting has raised eyebrows because Teachout and Wu are claiming to be advocates of campaign finance reform and have attacked incumbent Gov. Cuomo over Albany’s pay-to-play practices.
Wu referred questions to his campaign advisers when queried about his meager reporting.
“It’s all about shared expenditures and you know….,” he said, adding that he was deferring comment because he didn’t want to give inaccurate info.
Teachout campaign manager Mike Boland said Teachout and Wu will amend their filings within 48 hours to properly reflect campaign contributions and expenditures made to Wu.
“It’s just a timing and reimbursement issue,” Boland said.