New York Governor Kathy Hochul is Settling Ethics Scandal by Refunding Thousands in Campaign Donations from Appointees
Governor Hochul's massive war chest has been a source of strength for her campaign, but after being questioned about some questionable fund-raising methods, she announced that her campaign will return thousands of dollars in donations from people she appointed to state boards and councils. The decision comes after a Democratic primary rival accused the governor of violating an executive order prohibiting state employees and officers, even those in unpaid positions, from donating to gubernatorial campaigns.
According to public records, Governor Hochul has raised at least $72,500 from individuals who donated after they were appointed to steer state policy on issues such as cannabis and elevator safety. Some donors contributed before their appointments, while others have had positions put in place by the governor's predecessor, Andrew Cuomo.
Critics argue that this practice undermines public confidence in governmental actions, as it suggests that those appointed to important positions are doing so because of their campaign contributions rather than merit or qualifications. "The governor has set the rule on this and she should follow the rule," said Blair Horner, executive director of the New York Public Interest Research Group.
One notable example is Matt Rand, a real estate executive who was appointed to the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council in June 2022. After his appointment, Rand donated $15,000 to Governor Hochul's campaign, while also contributing $5,000 in July 2023.
Other appointees have also made significant donations to Governor Hochul's campaign, including Mark Gregorio, who has donated over $37,500 since his appointment to the Elevator Safety and Standards Board. Joseph Belluck, a founding partner of Belluck Law, has also made several significant contributions, including a $10,000 check in December 2023.
The decision to refund these donations comes after Governor Hochul's campaign spokesperson acknowledged that the governor had accepted funds from appointees despite an executive order prohibiting it. While some have praised Governor Hochul for her commitment to ethics, others argue that this is simply a case of the governor trying to distance herself from controversy rather than genuinely addressing the issue.
As the Democratic primary challenge from Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado heats up, Governor Hochul's decision to refund campaign donations may be seen as an attempt to improve her public image and address concerns about her ethics. However, it remains to be seen whether this move will be enough to restore confidence in her leadership.
Governor Hochul's massive war chest has been a source of strength for her campaign, but after being questioned about some questionable fund-raising methods, she announced that her campaign will return thousands of dollars in donations from people she appointed to state boards and councils. The decision comes after a Democratic primary rival accused the governor of violating an executive order prohibiting state employees and officers, even those in unpaid positions, from donating to gubernatorial campaigns.
According to public records, Governor Hochul has raised at least $72,500 from individuals who donated after they were appointed to steer state policy on issues such as cannabis and elevator safety. Some donors contributed before their appointments, while others have had positions put in place by the governor's predecessor, Andrew Cuomo.
Critics argue that this practice undermines public confidence in governmental actions, as it suggests that those appointed to important positions are doing so because of their campaign contributions rather than merit or qualifications. "The governor has set the rule on this and she should follow the rule," said Blair Horner, executive director of the New York Public Interest Research Group.
One notable example is Matt Rand, a real estate executive who was appointed to the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council in June 2022. After his appointment, Rand donated $15,000 to Governor Hochul's campaign, while also contributing $5,000 in July 2023.
Other appointees have also made significant donations to Governor Hochul's campaign, including Mark Gregorio, who has donated over $37,500 since his appointment to the Elevator Safety and Standards Board. Joseph Belluck, a founding partner of Belluck Law, has also made several significant contributions, including a $10,000 check in December 2023.
The decision to refund these donations comes after Governor Hochul's campaign spokesperson acknowledged that the governor had accepted funds from appointees despite an executive order prohibiting it. While some have praised Governor Hochul for her commitment to ethics, others argue that this is simply a case of the governor trying to distance herself from controversy rather than genuinely addressing the issue.
As the Democratic primary challenge from Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado heats up, Governor Hochul's decision to refund campaign donations may be seen as an attempt to improve her public image and address concerns about her ethics. However, it remains to be seen whether this move will be enough to restore confidence in her leadership.
, governor hochul's campaign taking responsibility for those questionable fund-raising methods is a step in the right direction, but it feels like a PR stunt to me 
, especially with the democratic primary challenge from antonio delgado heating up. what if she's just trying to save face and not actually changing her policies or behaviors? i'm all for transparency and accountability, but we need to see some real changes on the ground too 
. what's concerning is that governor hochul's campaign took advantage of that loophole and accepted those donations anyway. so yeah, she's refunding the money, but we need to make sure she's not getting a free pass on this one 
. But on the other hand, I think she could have taken it a step further by making sure her appointments are thoroughly vetted for their qualifications and independence before accepting those donations 
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. Maybe she should focus on creating a more robust system to prevent these types of situations from happening in the future rather than just refunding individual donations 
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. However, I think this move might be more about damage control than addressing the root of the issue 
. We'll just have to wait and see how the public responds to this decision 
... seems like a good thing tho? at least she's acknowledging that maybe she messed up & making things right. but also, can't we just trust our gov officials to do the right thing in the first place? like, we're already skeptical of politicians 'cause, well, they're politicians lol 
She's giving back donations from people she appointed to state boards 
It's about being transparent and following the rules 
Now, I'm not saying it's about getting re-elected 
, but it's good that she's taking responsibility for her actions 
. So, Governor Hochul is settin' the record straight by returnin' those campaign donations from her appointees. I mean, who wouldn't want to be accused of buyin' influence? It's like she's sayin', "Hey, I'm all about ethics now!" 
. I'm not sayin' she's a bad person or nothin', but this whole thing just reeks of tryin' to salvage her reputation before the primary heats up. Only time'll tell if it's enough to restore confidence in her leadership 
? Time will tell if her decision to refund those donations will be enough to restore confidence in her leadership, or if it'll just be seen as another PR stunt 
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. And yeah, I can see why some people might think Governor Hochul is just trying to cover her tracks rather than actually changing her ways 
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. im just wondering what other skeletons are hiding in the closet...
. Anyway, refunding those donations is probably just damage control at this point. But hey, better safe than sorry, right? Can't say I blame her for trying to clear her name, but now she's gotta prove it 