BUFFALO, N.Y. (Investigativepost.org) Some elected officials shut down their campaign funds when they leave office, but many don't. Some enter the private sector with substantial sums of campaign cash, which they can use largely as they see fit.
Geoff Kelly and Ken Kruly, with our partners at Investigative Post, reviewed the campaign finances of 32 former elected officials in Western New York. Here is a top ten list — as it happens, five Democrats and five Republicans — whose campaign accounts are still active.
Two recently retired legislators, State Senator Michael Ranzenhofer and Assembly Member Robin Schimminger, have substantial campaign accounts. Ranzenhofer has $824,083 the most of any retired politician, while Schimminger has $410,665.
Among officials who have been out of office for more than one year, the richest account belongs to former state Senator George Maziarz. The Niagara County Republican — who left office while under investigation for alleged misuse of campaign funds — has $545,395 on hand.
Read the full story at investigativepost.org.
By law, former elected officials can use campaign cash to make charitable contributions. They can donate to other political candidates. But they can't use it for personal expenses. "However," Kelly says, "that's hard to keep track of, and is rarely tracked by the New York State Board of Elections." There are no limitations on how long campaign money can be held in an account according to Kelly.
