District 19 candidates announce fundraising numbers

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The numbers are in!

With the primary for local elections just months away, candidates faced a fundraising deadline on January 15th, providing observers a look into just how much support donors have for their campaigns.

In northeast Queens’s District 19, City Council candidate Richard Lee has raised over $60,000 to date, and has earned $168,888 in matching funds. He leads the pack in fundraising so far.

Lee, who most recently served as budget director at Borough Hall, has 142 in-district contributions.

Earlier this month, Lee was endorsed by Congressman Tom Suozzi, who represents a portion of the district in Washington.

“Richard has the dedication and experience necessary to ensure all residents of the 19th District have a voice in City Hall,” Suozzi said.

Another candidate for District 19, Austin Shafran, announced that he raised more than $45,000 in just three months. He also has qualified for matching funds.

His January 15th filing includes nearly 350 individual donors, which includes local residents, civic association leaders, community board members, small business owners, seniors and more.

Shafran, who ran for the same City Council seat eight years ago, is a Bayside resident who has 15 years of government experience. For the past seven years, he’s been president of Metropolitan Public Strategies.

“I’m sincerely humbled by the outpouring of support for our campaign that will give us the deep resources needed to reach and mobilize voters across the district,” Shafran said.

Other candidates in this race include former Councilman and State Senator Tony Avella, who has raised $29,000 and received $84,000 in matching funds, CEC 26 President Adriana Aviles, who raised almost $11,000, KC Nabaraj, who has raised nearly $15,000, and former State Senate candidate Vickie Paladino, who has raised almost $18,000.

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