Major accounting gaffes for candidates Miller, Weiner

BY GLENN THRUSH and DAN JANISON
STAFF WRITERS

July 15, 2005

Glaring accounting gaffes are suddenly creating big embarrassments for two Democratic mayoral candidates.

Council Speaker Gifford Miller's office Thursday admitted having erroneously understated to reporters -- by a huge margin -- the costs of taxpayer-funded mail pieces it sent out.

And, Newsday learned, Rep. Anthony Weiner's campaign faces a possible probe by the Campaign Finance Board of irregularities in reporting fund-raising costs.

First, the speaker's troubles: When Miller (D-Manhattan) sent out millions of pieces of mail last month, his office estimated a cost of $37,000. Documents released yesterday showed five pieces mailed on behalf of 46 of the Council's 51 members costing a whopping $1.6 million.

"Regrettably," said Miller spokesman Steve Sigmund, "the information previously released ... was partial and not correct. When we realized that, we moved to gather the full and complete information."

Beyond that, he defended the mailings, which had been attacked by rivals as tax-funded campaigning. Sigmund said they were an appropriate way for the council to "communicate our budget priorities."

The mailings represent 3 percent of the council's administrative budget, officials said.

Weiner, meanwhile, faces questions over his failure to pay $100,000 in Democratic party dues.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee says the congressman has failed to pay for using its event rooms in Washington and for access to donor lists.

Weiner has used the committee's resources 90 times since January to help raise cash for his mayoral bid -- more than all but one of his peers, according to The Hill, a Washington weekly.

This arrangement, and the fact that Weiner hasn't reported it to the city, is drawing interest from the city board, which doles out taxpayer matching funds.

"When we see that kind of information regarding campaign activity, we take note," said board spokeswoman Tanya Domi. "All financial activity must be disclosed to the Campaign Finance Board."

Since the unpaid debt to the committee represents an asset Weiner used to raise funds, it might be considered an unreported in-kind contribution.

Violations of board laws could result in fines or revocation of matching funds

"Our standard operating procedure is that you must report contributions or expenditures," Domi added. "If it registers as neither, it could be an in-kind contribution."

Weiner spokesman Anson Kaye said that "Anthony is going to pay his DCCC dues," but provided no timetable for his compliace. "We're confident that we are in complete compliance with any applicable federal or city laws."