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Patel, in his 32-day pre-general election filing, reported making a single expenditure for $40,000 to Frankin Baraff Communications of Somers, raising questions over how recent direct mail solicitations and newspaper ads stamped "Paid for by Friends of Vishnu Patel" have been funded, according to the Yorktown Republican Party.
A complaint with the State Board of Elections details how Friends of Vishnu Patel has not reported paying for this expenditure in the September 22-28 issue of the Examiner, along with several other paid ads and mailings.
"It is clear Mr. Patel and his campaign are paying expenses that are going unreported." Guy Parisi, an often cited expert on election and campaign finance law, had the complaint referred to Risa Sugarman, the independent special enforcement counsel as the New York State Board of Elections.
The attorney's investigation of the Patel campaign filing on the New York State Board of Elections website indicates that there exists only a Schedule F amounting to $40,000 to Baraff. According to the State Board of Elections, Patel is required to file a "Schedule O" to accurately itemize what, if anything, Baraff has spent that $40,000 on.
"If Patel was not aware of this law, he is not fit to run a town of 37,000 people," Yorktown Republican Town Committee Chairman Matthew Slater
The attorney charged that since Patel did not submit this additional information, and as no Schedule O is reported on his 32-day filing, and he is not operating from a housekeeping account, enforcement is now warranted.
A similar situation in the recent primary campaign for Putnam County District Attorney was reported in the Journal News and the Examiner.
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