Two City Council Candidates Rise Above Pack In Fundraising (Updated)

With five candidates vying for the Democratic line in a recently-vacated Queens City Council district, former City Hall aide Rebecca Lynch and attorney Ali Najmi were quick to tout fundraising hauls coming in at roughly $60,000 ahead of the first disclosure deadline. 

Lynch’s campaign said she anticipates reporting raising more than $60,000 in her bid for former City Councilman Mark Weprin’s seat. Lynch expects to qualify for the New York City Campaign Finance Board’s matching funds program, with her campaign noting about 100 of her 400 contributors reside in the district.  Amassing another $20,000 in contributions would make her eligible for the maximum amount of public funds available during the primary.

Lynch’s campaign coffers were bolstered by several unions, including the Plumbers Local 1, which kicked in $2,750; the Teamsters Joint Council, $2,000; Communication Workers of America Local 1180, $1,500; and Communication Workers of America District 1, $1,500; her campaign said. The 32BJ SEIU building services union has endorsed her. 

Najmi, who helped found the Muslim Democratic Club of New York City and the South Asian/West Indian advocacy group, said his campaign raised at least $60,000 as well, with more than one-third of his roughly 300 donors residing in the district.

He anticipates currently qualifying for the maximum amount of matching funds. Former gubernatorial candidate Zephyr Teachout, the Jim Owles Democratic Club, the Alliance of South Asian American Labor and the Muslim Democratic Club of New York have endorsed Najmi.

The 23rd City Council District includes moderate home-owner neighborhoods and Jewish and South Asian enclaves where Lynch's history as an aide to the progressive Brooklyn-based mayor may not carry as much clout as it would in other parts of the city.  Najmi, who once worked for the former Councilman representing the district Mark Weprin, is one of three candidates with South Asian heritage. Celia Dosamantes, a former aide to U.S. Rep. Grace Meng and to Assemblymen David Weprin, and Satnam Singh Prhar, who has founded and led various cultural groups, have also filed to run in the primary.   

The Queens Democratic Party has backed Barry Grodenchik, director of community boards for the borough president. Grodenchik’s campaign manager Steve Behar said they were still calculating fundraising figures and could not provide any account estimates, but were confident Grodenchik would qualify for the maximum amount of matching funds. 

Robert Friedrich, the head of a Glen Oaks co-op, has also filed to run. Those close to the county organization say they believe Friedrich’s campaign will offer the stiffest competition because he has previously amassed enough votes to present a challenge in such a crowded race. Friedrich raised $28,327 and spent $1,534, according to the New York City Campaign Finance Board Twitter account.

Update: Now that filings are in, here is what the candidates officially reported raising:

• Rebecca Lynch raised $62,076, leaving her campaign with $56,061.
• Ali Najmi raised $57,152, leaving his campaign with $38,672.
• Barry Grodenchik raised $53,999, leaving his campaign with $46,202.
• Robert Friedrich raised $28,327, leaving his campaign with $26,793.
• Satnam Parhar raised $21,607, leaving his campaign with $9,914.
• Celia Dosamantes did not report raising anything.