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Patronage job holders’ campaign funds draw fire
Stratton, Savage accounts remain active
BY MICHAEL GORMLEY The Associated Press

    At least eight elected offi cials appointed or nominated to top posts by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, including former Schenectady mayor Brian Stratton and former Schenectady County Legislature chairwoman Susan Savage, have kept campaign finance accounts, a practice long criticized by government watchdogs who say it opens the door to infl uence peddling.
    An active campaign fund is open to contributions from special interests looking to influence the recipient and allows ex-politicians in patronage jobs to stay in the political mix. Funds can be transferred to other politicians, including the governor. Donations to civic groups back home help maintain political influence and even if the campaign account isn’t tapped, it signals the civil servant could choose to run for office again, perhaps for a more powerful elected position.
    Cuomo, who campaigned on a promise to enact an ethics law to end Albany’s notorious “pay to play” environment, has a spoken agreement with his appointees not to accept funds or spend money from their political accounts, according to two appointees. Cuomo believes state laws governing gifts and how campaign funds are spent — both long criticized as weak by good-government groups — are enough. ........................>>>>...........................>>>>..................................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01400&AppName=1

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Cuomo, who campaigned on a promise to enact an ethics law to end Albany’s notorious “pay to play” environment, has a spoken agreement with his appointees not to accept funds or spend money from their political accounts