Candidates running for NYC office are required to file finance disclosure statements by midnight tonight. Earlier today, City Council District 1 candidate Jenifer Rajkumar put out a press release touting her fundraising prowess. Rajkumar, a district leader, has not officially announced but is almost certain to challenge Council member Margaret Chin in the Democratic Primary.
According to the Board of Elections’ database, she has raised $66,849 from 198 contributors. More than $38,000 in contributions came from outside New York City. Rajkumar contributed $8,000 to her own campaign late last year. Eight other individuals in locations such as Chevy Chase, MD and Somers, NY donated $2700. In the press release, Rajkumar highlighted financial support from Jeanne Wilcke, Sean Sweeney and Paul Newell of Downtown Independent Democrats; Community Board 2 Chair David Gruber; and PJ Kim who ran against Chin three years ago.
Chin has raised $110,435 from 728 donors. A little over $19,000 in contributions have come from outside New York. Contributions of $2700 came from three sources: Norman Wong of Wai Sun Realty, 1199 SEIU (the Healthcare Workers Union) and Liane Ginsberg of Algin Management.
Chin, running for a second term, represents the Lower East Side (below East Houston), as well as the Financial District, Soho, Tribeca and Chinatown. In her re-election camapign, she is expected to do well in Chinatown and the LES. But dissatisfaction with her handling of the NYU rezoning initiative and the Soho BID have created pockets of opposition.
“In the coming days,” Rajkumar’s press release stated, she “expects to finalize her decision to run for City Council in the 1st district.”
