Erie County Democratic Chairman Jeremy Zellner says a rival party faction has violated state election law, and he wants an investigation.
A political action committee calling itself the Western New York Progressive Caucus is supporting the opponents of a number of endorsed Democrats in next Tuesday's primary. The PAC filed its first campaign finance report Wednesday. But Democratic Chair Zellner says it's been raising money since early August. Zellner claims that's illegal.
"This is corruption," Zellner said. "This is purposely not reporting who is paying for these elections."
But one of the organizers of the Western New York Progressive Caucus, Kristy Mazurek, responds Zellner is engaging in petty politics. She says her PAC didn't receive its PIN to file reports with the state elections board until last Friday. Mazurek says if there's one thing she knows it's election law.
"I understand the rules and regulations," Mazurek said. "To say I would make some sort of high school mistake is laughable."
Zellner says Sheriff's candidate Richard Dobson received a contribution from the Western New York Progressive Caucus that exceeds the legal limit, money that Zellner says Dobson should return. Zellner is calling on the Moreland Commission, created by the Governor to root out political corruption, to investigate.