State Senate Candidate Wants Investigation Of Golisano's Campaign Spending

State Senate Candidate Wants Investigation Of Golisano's Campaign Spending

By Steve Barber

Buffalo Sabres owner and Rochester billionaire Tom Golisano putting his money into politics. He is backing a movement to downsize government in West Seneca. "How many West Seneca's are there in New York State. Let's assume for a moment a 10th of them did it or half. Can you imagine the hundreds of millions of dollars that can be saved, and that would be saving taxpayers? said Golisano.

But state senate candidate Michelle Iannello is concerned about Golisano's spending, especially when it comes to her democratic primary opponent Baby Joe Mesi. Iannello believes is donating and coordinating too much. "We're hearing that he may be pouring as much as a million dollars behind my opponent and how am I supposed to have democracy and a fair race when we've got somebody trying to buy Albany." said Iannello.

She is calling on the State Attorney General, the Albany County District Attorney, and the State Board of Elections to investigate. She says Steve Pidgeon, the man in charge of handing out Golisano's cash, worked for Mesi and was authorized to sign checks for his campaign. Iannello claims it's a violation of the law."There's supposed to be no coordination when I believe his signature was on his checking account so he could be an actual signer on Mesi's account up until a couple of days after that committee was formed." said Iannello.

Pidgeon doesn't deny knowing Mesi and says, so far, he hasn't handed out money from Golisano's fund. He says his dealings with Mesi are in the past and the future is what matters. "It's a matter of coordination going forward, going in the future. He hasn't made any designations yet. He doesn't need to make designations." said Pidgeon.

The Mesi campaign had no on camera comment saying only tha
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