The Top Five: First-Time Candidates, Big-Time Fundraisers
February 11th, 2008
Anthony Cassino, David Greenfield, Brad Lander, Michael Simanowitz and Paul Vallone have never run for office before. But as they start their campaigns for Council seats which will open next year, these new kids on the block are already proving themselves formidable fundraisers. In the period that ended with the January filing, these five raised more than any other novice candidates.
Money is not everything in politics, as Mitt Romney now knows full well. But with a matching system that will multiply each one of these dollars into many more, the head start these prospective candidates have in the cash race may give them an early lead.
Most called on their family and friends. Some used old political connections. Some tried innovative approaches to house parties and reached across party lines.
None of them fully enjoyed the process. But they all did it well. They explain how.
#1
David G. Greenfield
Running for Council seat currently held by Simcha Felder
Raised: $170,619
Fundraising Secret:
“Knowing how much people are able to give and asking them to get involved at the right level.”
David Greenfield does not need to ask anyone else for money. He is done. The 29-year-old lawyer and Brooklyn education activist raised enough cash in eight weeks for his campaign to land the maximum in matching public contributions—almost a full two years before elections.
He did it by drawing on lessons learned as deputy director of finance for Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman’s campaign in the 2004 Democratic presidential primaries.
“You should never shut people out of a campaign because they can’t afford to participate,” he said.
When Greenfield first met Lieberman through a college internship years ago, he was impressed by the senator’s down-to earth dealings with everyone, and the time Lieberman always set aside for his family.
“That is very important for me now that I have a one-year-old,” Greenfield said.
On the Lieberman campaign, Greenfield learned that the secret to successful fundraising was never be afraid to ask for $10—or $1,000. Nor does he discriminate based on party affiliation: State Sen. Marty Golden (R-Brooklyn) attended one of his fundraisers, and there are several Republicans among Greenfield’s 350 contributors. He credits Lieberman’s influence on his political philosophy for his willingness to reach across party lines.
Now that he is done fundraising, Greenfield said he looks forward to spending more time reaching out to potential constituents. An observant Orthodox Jew, he hopes to unite the diverse religious Jewish and Catholic communities of Ditmas Park, Borough Park, Midwood, Bensonhurst and Kensington by focusing on affordable housing and education assistance.
To reach out to the Catholic community, Greenfield recently invited Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio to Prime Grill, a kosher restaurant in midtown Manhattan. The bishop and several prominent priests arrived in full regalia and surprised the candidate by offering a non-denominational prayer.
Greenfield laughed, recalling the scene.
“The single biggest thing I’ve learned is that coalitions are critical to success in New York,” he said.
But despite his fundraising success, Greenfield and his family are feeling a personal financial pinch. His advocacy for affordable housing comes in part from their experiences: they have been priced out of owning a house in their neighborhood, he says.
#2
Brad Lander
Running for Council seat currently held by Bill de Blasio
Raised: $63,015
Fundraising Secret:
“Passion plus good relationships plus strong track record equals people giving enthusiastically when you ask.”
Brad Lander, 38, began a series of eight house parties in August to raise money for his Council bid. At one of them, his 4-year-old daughter Rosa leapt into the role of finance director when a friend of his asked how much to contribute.
“One million dollars!” she said.
Lander explained that campaign limits were a little lower.
Though this is his first campaign, Lander has spent the last 15 years advocating for improved and more affordable neighborhoods. He lives in Park Slope, one of the many distinct neighborhoods that comprise the district he now wants to represent.
For his first few fundraisers, Lander said he tapped his base—friends and people he had worked with over the years. He organized the house parties by themes. Freelancers, artists, consultants and other independent workers were on one guest list. Parent leaders focused on education issues made up most of another.
Before becoming director of the Pratt Center for Community Development, Lander founded the Fifth Avenue Committee, a community-based organization focused on affordable housing, job creation and adult education. Lander said he started with a staff of five that ballooned to 50 by the time he left, and had developed approximately 500 units of affordable housing.
At Pratt, Lander said he is continuing to support affordable housing while also focusing on planning, architecture, public policy and environmental justice.
#3
Michael Simanowitz
Running for Council seat currently held by James Gennaro
Raised: $56,773
Fundraising Secret:
“Just a lot of hard work. A lot of phone calls, pressing the flesh and personal visits.”
Michael Simanowitz claims home court advantage in fundraising for his Council bid. For over a decade, the 36-year-old has served as chief-of-staff to Assembly Member Nettie Mayerson (D-Queens) while also serving as an auxiliary police officer in the Forest Hills neighborhood where he was born and bred.
“I don’t want to say I’m lucky,” Simanowitz said of the cash he has gathered from 168 contributors since mid-October. “I grew up in Forest Hills. I have strong roots in the community.”
He said he decided to focus the beginning of his candidacy on building up his campaign treasury, welcoming $10 or $20 contributions as eagerly as checks for $500 or $1,000.
“You want a strong showing early on to show that you’re serious, so you aren’t easily brushed aside,” he said.
Outside the office, Simanowitz has patrolled neighborhoods as an auxiliary officer for the 107th Precinct for the last 12 years.
“No gun, but we do act as sort of a helper, the eyes and ears,” he said.
On the night of the Sept. 11 attacks, the city temporarily conferred peace officer status on many auxiliary officers, including Simanowitz. He worked around the clock to secure the perimeter of the World Trade Center.
If elected, he would push to see the Buildings Department use less bureaucratic red tape when issuing permits, as well as advocating that city agencies be more proactive in communicating with each other.
#4
Anthony Perez Cassino
Running for Council seat currently held by G. Oliver Koppell
Raised: $54,250
Fundraising Secret:
“People have offered more often than I’ve asked. Some people are comfortable asking for money. I’m not.”
Whether at a flea market or campaign events, Anthony Cassino said he and his wife are never comfortable talking much about money.
So before making a final decision on his candidacy, Cassino wants to answer this question: “Would people care enough to write a check?”
The answer appears to be yes: the 42-year-old lawyer from Riverdale has received 127 donations since October.
He is 90 percent decided, and plans to make a final decision before summer. But he has qualms about making the leap, he said.
“I can’t say I love the political process,” said Cassino.
The one-time pro bono affairs director for the New York State Bar Association said he wants to be sure he has broad-based support.
“The best person doesn’t always win,” he said. “But if you get the best person, I love the part after that.”
As chairman of Bronx Community Board 8, Cassino said he came to truly appreciate the power of public service when fighting to change the zoning of Kingsbridge and Riverdale a few years ago.
Though this would be his first campaign, Cassino has already gotten involved in controversial political decisions. The Northwest Bronx Democratic Alliance, which he founded, endorsed Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s bid for a second term. As he moves forward in his campaign, Cassino said he is committed to taking principled positions, even if they are unpopular and cause controversy.
“I try to be fair and reasonable and not let party affiliation affect an issue,” Cassino said.
#5
Paul Vallone
Running for Council seat currently held by Tony Avella
Raised: $47,614
Fundraising Secret:
“It’s not easy. I’m the campaign manager, treasurer, and secretary.”
Since Paul Vallone, 40, decided to run for Tony Avella’s (D) seat, the attorney and community advocate has lately heard his storied surname and thought, “Hey, that’s me.”
Vallone said friends and family, who have been waiting years for him to run, blessed him with financial support once he leapt into the race in December. He raised over $20,000 at one event, held at Cascarinos Pizzeria in Queens.
Still, Vallone said fundraising is the downside of politics.
“It’s not easy to say to people, ‘I know you are having a tough time making do, but do you have $50 to $100?’” he said.
Growing up as a Vallone has always meant serving his community, he said. He is a member of nine civic boards and organizations, including the City Board of Corrections.
Vallone already successfully led a fight to remove a cell phone tower mounted on a local school. He hopes to wage similar battles on the Council, with a commitment to keeping his district’s private and residential atmosphere intact.
Vallone had always been interested in running, he said. But the birth of his third child, Charlie—named after his grandfather, a Queens judge—prompted him to start his candidacy now.
“It wasn’t that at 40 I knew it was time to run,” Vallone said. “It was just time to do it. I didn’t want to be an old father and an old Councilman.”
