Hempstead supervisor race: Republican John Ferretti has outraised Democrat Joe Scianablo more than 4-1, filings show

Newly appointed Hempstead Supervisor John Ferretti, a Republican, has spent more on his campaign than his Democratic opponent, Joe Scianablo, has raised, according to the most recent campaign finance reports.

Ferretti’s campaign has raised $205,604, including contributions from donors and transfers from political clubs and committees. His campaign spent $48,469. He had $157,135 cash in hand, according to filings in August. 

Scianablo’s campaign had raised $46,105 and spent $5,810, and had $40,295 cash on hand, according to his filing.

Candidates were required to disclose to the state board of elections their campaign contributions and expenses for a six-month period from Jan. 12 to July 11. The general election is Nov. 4. 

The town board appointed Ferretti supervisor on Aug. 5 during a meeting in which the incumbent, Donald X. Clavin Jr., abruptly resigned. Democrats protested the move, saying it gives Ferretti an incumbency advantage in the race. Ferretti will finish the rest of Clavin's term. Clavin is running for a county judgeship in November. 

Clavin had been given a job as a community services representative with a $179,375 salary, but on Thursday he resigned and retired from town government following weeks of questions about the job.

Candidates react

"I'm very proud with the amount of money that we've raised and the small, little grassroots donations that we've been getting," Scianablo said in an interview. "It shows that people really are interested and really care about our campaign and what's going on in the town."

Ferretti said people support him because of the work he's done as a county legislator for more than seven years. 

"I'm very proud of the fact that people support my campaign," Ferretti said. "They support it both by boots on the ground as well as financially, and I'm honored to have the significant amount of money raised in the last couple of months and I think it's a reflection on my record."

Jay Jacobs, chairman of the state and Nassau County Democratic committees, said Hempstead Republicans hold a fundraising edge due to their status as incumbents. 

"They're raising money from all the people who do business with the town, so that gives you quite a bit of an advantage," Jacobs said in an interview. "This is the game they play. We're out there talking to people about good government and they're out there talking about pay to play."

Nassau County Republican Committee Chairman Joseph Cairo said supporters contribute because they support the Republican Party, want to keep taxes low and are concerned about crime.

"People and businesses recognize that it's better to do business in a county and a town that's safe, where the property taxes are low, where we're friendly to businesses, and that's what the Republican Party stands for, and unfortunately the Democrats don't," Ferretti said. 

Contributors

Ferretti transferred $28,899 from his legislative campaign, the Committee to Elect John Ferretti, board of elections records show. His largest contribution, $5,350, came from Josh Liebman, a partner at Rosenberg, Calica, Birney, Liebman & Ross LLP, a Garden City law firm.

He also received $5,000 each from seven contributors including his law firm, Nicolini, Paradise, Ferretti & Sabella; the Uniondale-based law firm Forchelli Deegan Terrana LLP; Hauppauge-based engineering firm Cashin Spinelli Ferretti; Harry Singh, of Old Westbury, founder and chief executive of Bolla Oil Corp.; Breslin Realty Dev Corp. of Garden City; Jeffrey Forchelli, of Forchelli Deegan Terrana LLP; and the Committee for Fair Property Taxes.

A Newsday analysis of federal and state campaign finance filings identified contributions from more than two dozen current or former Hempstead Town employees who contributed to Ferretti’s campaign.

Scianablo, a former Queens County prosecutor, New York City police officer and U.S. Marine, received a $5,000 contribution from the Milton Cooper 2013 Revc. Trust, which the Securities and Exchange Commission shows is connected to former Kimco Realty Corp. chairman Milton Cooper. He also received a $2,500 contribution from Thomas Garry, a partner at the law firm Harris Beach Murtha Cullina PLLC. He also received $1,500 contributions from two attorneys: Samir NeJame and John Sturino.

Both campaigns received contributions from political figures with criminal convictions, and both Ferretti and Scianablo told Newsday that those contributions either have been refunded or will be refunded. Former Hempstead Councilman Ed Ambrosino, a Republican who pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion charges in 2019, contributed $350 to Ferretti's campaign, records show. Former Nassau County Legis. David Denenberg, who pleaded guilty to mail fraud in 2015, contributed $150 to Scianablo's campaign.

The largest share of Ferretti's contributions, $40,499, came from residents of Levittown, where he is a lifelong resident, more than any other part of town, accounting for more than 19% of his total. 

Scianablo received the greatest share of contributions from his home community — Garden City — with $8,235.

Ferretti's largest expense was $35,000 at Sand Castle Caterers Inc. in Franklin Square. His campaign also paid $8,827 to CCC Enterprises, a Deer Park-based political mailing service run by Christopher Cianciulli, chief of staff to the Hempstead Town Board’s majority.

Scianablo’s biggest expense was $2,439 at the Garden City restaurant Novita, where he kicked off his campaign, followed by $1,059 to DP Sales Distributor, a North Amityville printing and mailing company.