By Jill Colvin
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — Tough-talking, Tea Party-backed gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino has not only been using his own cash, but also his own companies to run his campaign, the Daily News reported.
The Buffalo billionaire, who is battling Democrat Andrew Cuomo to replace Gov. David Paterson, has steered at least $1.9 million in campaign funds to seven of his own companies, paying himself to do everything from buying TV ads to securing campaign office space, the paper reported.
Paladino's campaign manager Michael Caputo told the News that Paladino formed the largest campaign-fund recipient, Ellicott Advertising Co., to save cash after receiving "exorbitant" bids from other firms.
Using Paladino's company reportedly saves the campaign about 30 percent.
"We have been able to achieve incredible savings," Caputo was quoted saying, adding that Paladino's companies have charged the campaign market rate and have not profited from the work.
Under state election law, candidates are allowed to hire their own companies for campaign work as long as they charge "a reasonable fair-market rate," a state election board spokesman told the paper.
Because the companies are privately held, it is difficult to verify the charges.
