Mayor’s Committee Paid for Myles Campaign Mailer, Prompting Ethics Questions
Mayor Robert M. Restaino financed a mailer for City Council candidate Bridgette V. Myles. The proof is in the corner, printed in plain type—the mayor’s name like an artist signs a canvas. Paid for by Restaino for Mayor.
The mayor is financing his very own personal pet council. The executive financing the legislature.
Forget that under New York Election Law, a mayor’s campaign committee cannot directly fund or coordinate campaign materials for another candidate without reporting it as an in-kind contribution and adhering to contribution limits.
Forget about how by financing a council candidate’s mailer, Restaino blurred ethical boundaries intended to preserve independent campaigns.
Forget, at least for a moment, that of course, the mayor wants to help his good friends, like Bridgette, get elected, so they will be friendly to him with his request for taxpayers’ dollars.
As former Mayor Jake Pallilo said, “Who should I help, my enemies?”
But a mayor funding the very council meant to restrain him is of course bizarre.
Legally, if Myles’s campaign fails to report the mailer’s cost as an in-kind contribution from the Restaino for Mayor committee, it constitutes a campaign-finance violation under New York Election Law §14-100 et seq.
Even with full disclosure, it compromises the separation of powers by enabling the mayor to exert financial influence over the legislative branch.
A mayor shouldn’t pay for his overseers.
It’s the oldest story in politics—control through money instead of merit. A council is meant to keep the mayor honest by asking him questions he’d rather not answer. A council is supposed to argue. That’s its beauty.
The council’s duty is oversight: budgets, ordinances, and accountability. A council’s job is to be a pain in the mayor’s ass. A council is the people’s watchdog, not the mayor’s pooch.
What should we do about the mayor and Bridget Myles?
The answer may be to vote for people who don’t owe their printing bills to the mayor. Elect a council that pays attention to the people and does not tremble when the mayor barks, nor does it fawn when he offers a campaign-funded treat.
Three candidates not bought and paid for by Mayor Robert Restaino
Vince Cauley
