Staffers also running campaigns

From the Daily News:

Legislative staffer Carl Gucciardi does his best to keep separate his simultaneous roles as an aide to Sen. Diane Savino - and as her campaign treasurer. It's not easy.

Gucciardi, who is Savino's $50,000-a-year research assistant, is one of 49 legislative staffers who also serve as treasurer of their boss' political campaigns.

One in five of New York's 212 state legislators relied on this two-for-one deal in the last two years, a New York Public Interest Research Group review of campaign and payroll records show.

It's not illegal, but it's a loophole that can create conflicts, good government advocates say.

For instance, workers who know who's writing campaign checks may treat a donor's request to meet with the legislator more favorably.