Queens Borough President Democratic primary candidates

Marc Leavitt

Helen Marshall

Click photos for videos.

Helen way behind opponent in fundraising

From the Queens Campaigner:

Borough President Helen Marshall once again did not qualify for public matching funds from the Campaign Finance Board, despite her campaign’s pledge to accelerate its fund-raising efforts.

Marshall has raised $147,931 thus far for her campaign and more than $28,000 in the last month, but failed to eclipse the $44,588 threshold of matchable contributions required to receive the public funding — something her Democratic opponent Marc Leavitt was quick to point out in a news release.

Earlier this month, Leavitt received $279,939 in matching funds, giving him a far larger war chest than the incumbent Marshall. Leavitt has also spent $225,929 thus far, more than four times Marshall’s spending total of $43,626.

Marshall’s campaign did not immediately return a call for comment.

Photo from Daily News

Leavitt's in the money; Marshall won't get matching funds

Marc Leavitt, Democratic candidate for Queens Borough President, is the only candidate for that office who has qualified for public campaign matching funds, according to today’s Campaign Finance Board announcement. Notably, incumbent Helen Marshall, who is running for a third term since term limits were lifted, has raised less than half of the minimum required, as of her campaign’s most recent filing.

None of Marc’s three opponents who have filed nominating petitions has come close to raising the $44,588 threshold of matchable donations. As of his last filing, Marc received over 500 separate contributions, nearly twice as many as any other candidate.

“Being the only candidate to qualify for matching funds shows who has real grassroots support in Queens,” said Leavitt. “This is especially significant, since I am challenging an incumbent who has all the institutional support.”

Marc Leavitt, challenger to Helen Marshall

From The Daily Gotham:

Marc Leavitt, a Queens lawyer and long-time activist, is running for Queens Borough President. He has already demonstrated, in just one month, an ability to raise the kind of money needed to run a viable campaign, and the money is still flowing in.

We have a website up, at http://marccrawfordleavitt.com. It is very basic right now, but we're still gearing up.

This Monday, June 8, we are having a grand opening at our campaign headquarters at 50-11 Queens Blvd. in Woodside (take the #7 local train to 52nd St.), starting at 6:00. Feel free to stop in and meet the candidate.