UPDATE Elections 2023: CFB Issued Public Matching Funds of $894,749 to 47 Candidates Citywide on Nov. 2

A “VOTE NYC” sticker on plastic partition at the Glad Tidings Assembly of God polling station in Bedford Park on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. Photo credit: José A. Giralt

Editor’s Note: Check back with us later for further updates.

The NYC Campaign Finance Board (CFB) issued public matching funds payments totaling $894,749 to 47 candidates citywide on Thursday, Nov. 2, the last payments issued before the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 7. Further below, we also provide an overview of some of the donations received for the 2023 election cycle by north Bronx candidates.

To qualify for public funds, candidates must demonstrate support by raising small contributions within their communities, which encourages candidates to spend more time speaking to voters and less time fundraising. Click here to see the exact thresholds that candidates must meet to qualify for public funds.

The table further below lists all The Bronx candidates who have been awarded public funds in the 2023 election cycle. It also includes the amount of public funds paid to a candidate on Nov. 2, the amount of public funds paid to the candidate for the 2023 election cycle, with the maximum public funds payment for each election being $184,000.

It also includes the total dollar amount raised from individual, organizational, and all other contribution sources, as of Oct. 23, the percent of the number of contributions reported from individual residents in the candidate’s council district as of Oct. 23, excluding organizational and other contribution sources, the percentage of aggregate contributions from individuals that totaled $175 or less as of Oct. 23, excluding organizational and other contribution sources, and the total dollar value of all contributions reported from a donor. For example, the aggregate contribution from a donor who made two $5 contributions is $10.

PUBLIC MATCHING FUNDS paid to candidates as of Nov. 2, 2023, according to NYC Campaign Finance Board Source: NYC Campaign Finance Board

City Council Member Eric Dinowitz is the Democratic incumbent representing District 11, which encompasses the neighborhoods of District 11 covers the neighborhoods of Norwood, Kingsbridge, Van Cortlandt Village, Wakefield, Riverdale, Woodlawn Heights and part of Bedford Park.

As reported, the councilman recently introduced legislation, along with Democratic District 12 City Councilman Kevin Riley, that would require NYC Department of Emergency Management, in consultation with the Office of the Mayor and community boards, to identify and designate facilities within each community district to serve as rapid emergency response centers.

According to the councilman, each center would be required to stock supplies for residents who are displaced by a natural-human caused disaster. The Jewish councilman, who recently provided a breakdown of the latest City budget in terms of its impact on District 11, has also been vocal in his condemnation of the recent Hamas attacks on Israel, including vandalism of a local Jewish Center in Norwood.

Over the course of his 2023 campaign, Dinowitz received 14 donations of $1.050, 13 donations of $1,000, one donation of $550, 12 donations of $500, two donations of $300, around 45 donations of $250, along with other smaller donations, the smallest being $7. The majority were individual donors from The Bronx, with some others from Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Long Island. He received some donations from various trade unions and trade associations, and $100 from a realtor PAC based in Albany.

Robert Caemmerer is running on the Republican Party, Conservative Party, and Medical Freedom Party tickets to represent District 11. He did not receive any public matching funds for the 2023 election cycle. The Republican and Conservative Party primaries for this office on June 27 were canceled. Norwood News recently published a story on the documentary “Shot in the Arm,” which aims to explore the phenomenon of vaccine hesitancy.

For his part, Riley, who represents the neighborhoods of Wakefield, Baychester, Eastchester, Olinville, Edenwald, Williamsbridge and Co-op City, has been vocal in his calls for the closure of Rikers Island sooner rather than later. Riley’s donations for the 2023 election cycle ranged from amounts of $1,050 (30 donations, including one from Madison Square Garden) to $10. Most were individual donations with others from trade unions and trade organizations. One was from a Pfizer PAC for $250. While a good percentage of donations were from the Bronx, most were from outside The Bronx.

Dewayne Lee is running on the Republican Party ticket to represent District 12. The Republican primary for this office on June 27 was canceled. He did not receive any public matching funds for the 2023 election cycle.

Former District 12 City Council Member Andy King held office from 2012 and left on Oct. 5, 2020, as reported. King, a Democrat, ran for election to represent District 12 but was disqualified from the Democratic primary scheduled on June 27. Aisha Hernandez Ahmed, a Democrat, ran for election to represent District 12 and lost the Democratic primary on June 27. She had most received individual donations for her 2023 campaign ranging from $5 to $1,050.

Pamela Hamilton-Johnson, also a Democrat, also had ran for election to represent District 12 and lost the Democratic primary on June 27. Her campaign contributions for the 2023 campaign season had ranged from $600 to $10 and were from Bronx individuals.

City Council Member Marjorie Velázquez is the Democratic incumbent representing District 13, which encompasses the neighborhoods of Allerton, City Island, Country Club, Edgewater Park, Ferry Point, Locust Point, Morris Park, Pelham Bay, Pelham Gardens, Pelham Parkway, Schuylerville, Silver Beach, Spencer Estates, Throggs Neck, Van Nest, Waterbury LaSalle, Westchester Square, and Zerega.

As reported, the councilwoman recently reacted to reports of the fate of Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point and also announced recent funding of $1.39 million for two FDNY firehouses and an EMS station in the East Bronx. Donations for the 2023 campaign cycle for Velázquez ranged from $1,500 (one donation of this amount from an individual, Kevin Alicea, in Dobbs Ferry, NY) to $1. Most were under $250.

While many smaller donations were from The Bronx, many others were from outside the borough. The donations were a mix of group and individual donations with many of the group donations coming from trade unions or trade associations and PACs. The Corrections Officers Benevolent Association donated $500. Donations included some lobbyists, consultants, and from those working in real estate, hospitals and educational institutions.

Bernadette Ferrara, a resident of Van Nest, founder of the Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance, and a Bronx Community Board 11 (CB 11) board member since 2011, lost the June 2023 Democratic Primary in District 13. Ferrara previously ran unsuccessfully in District 15 in 2021.

Samantha Hassine Zherka lost both the June 2023 Republican primary and the Conservative Party Primary in District 13 to Kristy Marmorato, who recently participated in a BronxNet debate against Velázquez, which centered in large part around upzoning, particularly on Bruckner Boulevard, in the East Bronx.

Marmorato’s donations for the 2023 election cycle were all from individuals and largely from The Bronx, with some from outside the Bronx, including a few from places in Pennsylvannia, Connecticut, California and Florida. The largest donation size was for $1,000 (5 donations) and the smallest was for $5. A good few were from retirees. Ninety-seven donations were from employees at the Board of Elections and ranged in donation size from $200 to $10. Her donations included some which were from those who work in real estate, and others which were from those in unions and hospitals.

George Havranek was runner-up in both the District 13 Republican and Conservative Primary races. Havranek was disqualified from the general election in November 2023.

City Council Member Pierina Sanchez is the Democratic incumbent representing District 14, which encompasses the neighborhoods of Kingsbridge, Fordham, University Heights, Mount Eden and Mount Hope. Rachel Bradshaw ran in the Democratic primary in June 2023, losing to Sanchez.

The councilwoman who is running on both the Democratic Party and Working Families Party ticket in the upcoming general election, recently announced funding of $1 million in participatory budgeting projects in District 14 and has also been vocal on the need to provide more support for her constituents on housing-related matters. She has also been a strong advocate for those negatively affected by the criminal justice system.

Sanchez’s donations for the 2023 election cycle range from $1,050 (9 donations) to $2, with the majority were from individuals and were for under $250. Of the group donations, most were from trade unions. While many smaller donations were from The Bronx, many donations were from outside the borough but within the state.

Amelia Rose is running on the Republican Party ticket to represent District 14. The Republican primary for this office on June 27 was canceled. Rose has not received any public matching funds for the 2023 election cycle.

City Council Member Oswald Feliz is the Democratic incumbent representing District 15, which encompasses the neighborhoods of  Fordham, Belmont, East Tremont, West Farms, Van Nest, and Allerton. The council led the passage of enhanced fire regulations following the Twin Parks fire tragedy. More recently, Feliz introduced a bill earlier this year to curb the proliferation of fake license plates by increasing fines for those who sell or use fraudulent paper plates.

For the 2023 election cycle, Feliz’s donations ranged from $1,050 (8 donations) to $10, and the majority were under $100, and were from individual donors. Group donations included those from various trade unions. There was one donation from Pfizer for $250.

Jose A. Padilla Jr. is running on the Conservative Party line to represent District 15. The Conservative Party primary for this office on June 27 was canceled. Padilla Jr. previously ran in the same district in 2021 as reported. Erica Elias is running on the Republican Party line in District 15. The Republican primary for this office on June 27 was canceled. Neither Elias nor Padilla Jr. received any public matching funds for the 2023 election cycle.

City Council Member Amanda Farías is the Democratic incumbent representing District 18, which encompasses the neighborhoods of Castle Hill, Clason Point, Harding Park, Parkchester, Unionport, Shorehaven, and Soundview. The councilwoman, who is running on both the Democratic Party and Working Families Party in the upcoming general election, recently announced funding of $25,000 to Jacobi Medical Center’s Stand Up to Violence Program.

City Council Member Tiffany Cabán is the Democratic incumbent representing District 22, which straddles areas in the East Bronx and Queens. The incumbent councilperson who is running on a Democratic Party and and Working Party Family ticket in the general election is being challenged by Republican Party, Conservative Party, and Animal Welfare Party candidate, Kelly Klingman in District 22. The June 2023 Republican and Conservative Party primaries for this office were canceled. Charles Castro lost to Cabán in the June 2023 Democratic primary in District 22.

Election Day is Nov. 7 and polls are open until 9 p.m. To find your Election Day voting site, visit https://findmypollsite.vote.nyc/. For more information on candidates running in each race, click here. You can also call NYC Board of Elections if you have any questions or concerns on 866 VOTE NYC / 866 868 3692. 

Click here to view some previous campaign financing coverage and here and here for some recent general election coverage.