Controversy Surrounds Upstate GOP Senate Candidate
In Albany, a candidate for the Upstate GOP Senate has found himself in hot water. Allegations suggest that his campaign claimed eligibility for matching taxpayer funds by asserting he had made donations to homeless individuals.
A report released by the Albany Times Union revealed that several homeless men in Auburn reported being offered $30 to sign forms that indicated a $250 donation to Caleb Slater’s campaign for the upcoming November election.
This tactic, if confirmed, would allow Slater to tap into public funds from the state based on contributions of up to the same amount. Oddly enough, at least seven individuals who spoke to the Times Union mentioned they didn’t actually contribute but were compensated for submitting donation forms. One individual even noted he was asked to find others to participate.
Images apparently taken during the campaign show volunteers or staff promoting Slater’s campaign at street corners, offering $25 Visa gift cards in exchange for $10 donations.
Despite the controversy, Slater’s campaign reportedly collected $22,000 from the state’s public funding before being halted by incumbent Democratic State Senator Rachel May in the general election, where she won with 58% of the vote.
Slater has not responded to requests for comments but previously told the Times Union that the report was, in his view, inaccurate. He stated, “Your facts are wrong. At this point, there’s nothing to say,” and mentioned he was reaching out to the public campaign finance committee for clarification.
The State Election Commission has not confirmed whether there is an ongoing investigation into the campaign, but officials stated that the Public Campaign Finance Board collaborates with law enforcement to take suspicious violations seriously.
Senator George Borello, leading the campaign division for the Senate GOP, commented, “Caleb Slater was never approved by the Senate Republican Campaign Committee or our members. Unfortunately, the main voters didn’t vote our way. He didn’t receive resources from us even after the primary.”
The recent election marks the first cycle in New York to provide funding for candidates based on smaller donations, which adds another layer to the ongoing discussion around campaign financing in the state.
