5-Cent Donation Highlights ‘Frivolous’ Campaign Laws

A shiny nickel donated to John Liu’s mayoral campaign chest should not be taken as a sign f confidence in the embattled city comptroller, the donor told the Daily News.

“It’s a whimsical donation meant to highlight the nature of the city’s matching funds program, which is frivolous and seriously flawed,” John Reynolds, a Bronx management consultant, said.

The 68-year-old is a member of the Green Party, and he said he believes the city’s $6-to-$1 matching funds program is “corrupt” and “does not serve the average New Yorker.” Reynolds’ nickel will be worth 35 cents with taxpayer matching funds.

He said he chose Liu to make his point because he believes the controller may not be allowed matching cash because of the fund-raising scandal that has enveloped his campaign.

“I would applaud Liu if he voluntarily opted out,” he said.

But Liu got a powerful vote of confidence from a different source Tuesday, when the Communications Workers of America Local 1180 union declared their backing for him.

Local 1180 President Arthur Cheliotes called Liu a “fighter” for workers, with “the courage to expose the lies about city workers when we are attacked.”

Cheliotes had promised Liu last year, before his legal troubles began, to support him in a potential mayoral run.

This article appeared in print on page D15 of the May 22nd, 2013 edition of Hamodia.