Martin Connor Used Campaign Funds For A Brand New Car, Parking?

By on September 3, 2008 9:05 am in Brooklyn Heights, Election08, Government, News

This may be old news, but it was news to me: According to a 2006 Report compiled by the nonprofit Common Cause organization on NY State campaign funds misuse, State Senator Martin Connor spent over $70,000 on “other” expenses, including a brand new car (a Jeep Grand Cherokee) and a parking space in Brooklyn Heights, during a time when he faced no opposition (2003-2004).

The report, which investigates the muddy world of New York State campaign financing, highlighted Senator Martin Connor for stretching “the definition of ‘campaign expense’ beyond any reasonable limit”:

The single largest expense was the car itself, purchased for $34,582.08. The Senator also spent a total of $11,966 to park his car at a garage located over two miles from his district office in Manhattan but just one block from his Brooklyn residence. The third largest expense was car insurance from Allstate, costing a total of $11,763. Connor also spent $8,558 on repairs and maintenance, including a $5,422 repair in July 2004, just one year from the purchase date. Rounding out the carrelated expense list was $2,773 for miscellaneous “car expense” reimbursements made directly to the Senator; $1,999 spent on gasoline reimbursements; $150 to register the car; and $45 for a AAA membership.

This represented 35% of his campaign expenses during a time period where he had no opponents in the primary or the general election.

Mr. Connor is no stranger to such “creative accounting” it seems: In the late 80s he was under investigation for payroll abuses, including “no-show” jobs and using employees for full-time campaign work.

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  • nicky215

    Marty has used the system to enrich himself , his wife, his wife’s family, his supporters etc. from day 1. He placed his cronies on the school board, on the brooklyn bridge park devleopment corporation, within the brooklyn bridge park conservancy and god know what else. He is an clubhouse
    hack that needs to be thrown out of office.

  • nicky 215

    Marty worked for disgraced county leader -currently in jail
    Clarence Norman and helped one of his Pals Ernie Lendler get lucrative business from him and his cronies. What ever happened to Ernest Lendler. He disappered . Is he in Jail?

  • cormac

    Over $ 70,000 as a campaign expense spent directly on his car…disgusting use of public resources. I would like to know if there is any rebuttal? What could justify $ 2,773 in maintenance expenses a year after the purchase of the car?

  • http://www.danrosenbaum.com danno

    Or, for that matter, $1,000 / month on parking. The College Place garage, about a block from Connors’ home and the most expensive in the nabe, topped out at something like $500 / month for an oversized car parked on the ground floor. $1000 / month for parking? Not in the Heights…

  • lovely rita

    Not sure why he needed to pay for parking, since he used his police placard to park right in front of his house!

  • anon

    Arrogance.. I am the elected offical and can do what I want ..thy name is Marty.. Lets just be sure the kid doesn’t bit this apple if elected. WE need to hold him accountable and not let this stuff get to his head. He works for us not the other way around

  • Jesse

    I really don’t think we need to worry about the arrogance bug with Daniel. It is pretty well known that he has led a very priveleged life, but we have all seen that he is still a down to earth, sensible guy. Maybe when he is elected, he will get Connor a parking spot as a goodbye present.

  • anon

    i hope you are right – if not as far as I am concerned he is out of office in 2 years… we do not need another Yassky.. also out of Chuck’s office

  • BklynLifer

    Marty craves a high-class life style. He has two kids in private school, and he likes to hang out with the rich folks. So getting “campaign contributions” from people/corporations who want something from him is the best way to pay for the fancy car and other trappings of that life style. Some contributors benefit directly from taxpayer funds Marty targets to their organizations — e.g., the UJO in Williamsburg, and Buddy Scotto’s various “non-profit” ventures in Carroll Gardens and Gowanus. This is called “transactional politics,” and it is a key reason why our state government is dysfunctional, and our taxes are so high. Marty’s a pro at this game.

  • nicky 215

    I agree that Marty is ethically challanged… Does he still owe the IRS money?

  • nicky 215

    and what about his wife’s hardly show job as a law secreatary. Half the Brooklyn Dems have their families working there in hardly show jobs.. very disgraceful

  • Jesse

    (responding to Anon) From what I’ve heard Daniel say, he would agree with you. I’ve been to a house party where he spoke and he said almost exactly that: if in two years, he has not lived up to his campaign promises, we should vote him out. Of course, to a degree, this is political grandstanding, but I do think he believes it.

  • BklynLifer

    That’s part of the deal — your spouse and/or other family members get cushy barely show jobs. All you have to do is make sure to scratch all the other hacks’ backs! Did you see the state senators who all lined up to say they are 100% behind Marty? Well, those guys (and gal) lining up there were part of the “coup” in 2003 that ousted Marty and put David Paterson in as minority leader. He was too arrogant for even the back-scratchers back then! But now that “one of them” and their very corrupt way of life are threatened by someone who wants to clean up the joint, they all band together.

    Like the NY Times says, throw them ALL out! But start with the biggest hack, Marty Connor.

  • nicky 215

    I suggest the BHA.. Judy Stanton.. Irene Janner all the locals who signed the letter supporting Marty and of course Dick Dady of the citizens union and Ms Koval form a new committee and call it WASPS and WASP wannabes for HACKs. The esteemed Otis Persall should be President. the sogan should be ” I don’t care about anything as long as my neighborhood is free our outsiders and I get mine.

  • nicky 215

    padon me its slogan

  • nabeguy

    Nicky, slow down. I admit that I was disappointed to see Pearsall’s name attached to a Conner support letter, along with most of the BHA executive committee. They seem to be choosing the devil they know as opposed to the alternative, which is the potential loss if influence and control. Doesn’t mean there a vast WASP conspiracy to erect walls around the neighborhood.

  • nicky 215

    ok its a vast wasp and wasp wannabe decision to maintain their out of bounds influence for the number of perple they represent- rather than see Marty for the hack he is. Someone they can buy at $6000.00 a head –

  • BklynLifer

    Actually, Marty is the devil they BOUGHT.

  • Cream Plouffe

    Clearly this blog leans Squadron, but how is Marty any less of a hack than pro-war Chuck Schumer whose minion Squadron is? And considering that Squadron lifted talking points wholesale from Obama’s website without endorsing him, as a long-time supporter of Barack (back in the Chicago days) I’m offended that Squadron would THINK there’s a comparison just because both are younger.

    Of course, Marty endorsed Gerladine and Hillary. But, what matters more is Democrats winning a majority. Squadron has the money to run anyplace he wants. Why not try to pick up a winnable seat in Dutchess County or Long Island? I guess he wants to be a politician and hang out with Jesse at house parties.

    If you care about policy, it seems Marty’s long been one of the good guys. He’s not perfect, but at least he didn’t ghostwrite Chuck Schumer talking about the size of Chuck Schumer’s balls.

  • Cream Plouffe

    To clarify: winnable state senate seat currently held by a republican.

    I guess if you’re proud that Bloomberg calls you independent, I guess you’d not mind being in the senate minority.

  • anon

    Cream Plouffe
    You truly represent Marty- you have class just like him.. Are You on the payroll .. is your wife?

  • anon

    then again you said one true thing.. he is not perfect.. far from it.. he is a hack

  • Cream Plouffe

    Whatever — how many Squadron staffers are going around commenting in blogs? I’m a constituent and I’m a little perplexed why people are taking the position that Squadron’s more progressive than Connor (see the “giuliani” comment on the liveblog.) I don’t think Schumer’s a real progressive; and the bit about Chuck Schumer’s balls is really in the book (attributed to D’Amato, for reference).

    The BHA’s position on condos seems to be a fair compromise between preserving open access and developing the park, itself. Not perfect, but it’s at least a proposal. As issues go, it’s certainly less important than budget priorities. And Marty’s certainly been a solid advocate for the poor and his record on gay rights is no joke. So, I think he has more to commend him than you see on this blog, and Squadron doesn’t strike me as having the maturity to be a state senator. Not that he’s too young; he’s too smug. And it’s silly that he’s pretending to be the Obama in this race when he doesn’t seem to have thought past “I want.”

  • anon

    your right Daniel is the Obama.. Marty is the Dick Daley

  • nicky215

    The Bha’s position on the condos is elitist-just like they are. What I don’t get is why they are against people having a real park. Most of us will use it on the weekends when they are at their summer houses- so they will not have to see, hear or mix with the public

  • http://deleted buddy

    Condos in parks are an abomination and I think Connor actually agrees but the sad thing is that he is able to be purchased on basically any issue. So, on the park, the highest bidders are the folks who line the promenade and who don’t actually want to see or hear people in a park, so Connor put them on the board of directors and suddenly all active recreation in the park is gone and there are 1250 lux condos to protect it. Connor did the same thing with the commuter tax, with getting very qualified democrats off their tickets across the state (why do you think Galisano endorsed Connor?/?), voting against smoking bans, rewarding himself with a new car and expenses from campaign funds, his wife’s hardly-show job? Let’s get real. We need change in Albany and Squadron is smart, able, willing and honest – let’s give him a chance to succeed for us all!