Campaign spending complaints filed in Clarkstown town supervisor race
Clarkstown Town Supervisor Alex Gromack’s campaign expenses will face scrutiny by the state Board of Elections after two complaints were filed this summer.
Brendan Quinn, the former executive director of the New York Republican Party, filed a complaint in July and again on Sept. 1 alleging Gromack’s campaign “routinely reports unitemized expenditures and when you look at the fillings going back to 2011 there are tens of thousands of dollars of unitemized expenditures.” Gromack is a Democrat.
Legally, candidates for the state Senate and Assembly are not required to itemize purchases less than $50, although concerns have been raised in the past about candidates exploiting the rule to mask larger purchases that may not be tied to actual campaign activities.
“Alex Gromack has always filed his financial disclosures in a timely manner and within the guidelines of the New York State Board of Elections,” Gromack’s campaign manager Rich Orsillo said in a statement. “This is clearly a political stunt and has zero merit and even less relevance to the residents of Clarkstown."
In May, Town Board member George Hoehmann, a Republican, announced he would challenge Gromack for supervisor. Hoehmann is first serious challenger to the incumbent since Gromack took office in 2004, the Journal News reported.
The state Board of Elections Chief Enforcement Counsel Risa Sugarman responded to the July complaint.
“This office treats all allegations as a serious matter,” she wrote. “I can assure you that this will receive appropriate attention of my staff.”
A copy of relevant unitemized expenditures and correspondence to and from the state Board of Elections can be found below.
Gromack BOE Complaint July 6 2015
Gromack BOE Complaint Sept 1 2015
Friends of Alex Gromack c19500 Unitemized Expenses 2015-2011