Cuomo’s top donors in 2014 are in real estate

Property firms were major contributors in first half of year to governor's re-election campaign

From left: Andrew Cuomo, Leonard Litwin, Charles Dolan, Richard LeFrak, Sheldon Solow and Stephen Ross
From left: Andrew Cuomo, Leonard Litwin, Charles Dolan, Richard LeFrak, Sheldon Solow and Stephen Ross

The top four donors who contributed during the first half of this year to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s re-election campaign are all in the real estate industry, a review of state campaign filings show.

Leonard Litwin’s Glenwood Management, which has been Cuomo’s top donor overall, was the highest contributor, providing $219,200 to his coffers. The firm was followed by $205,000 that members of the Dolan family and their company Cablevision donated, followed by $125,000 given by limited liability companies owned by Richard LeFrak’s LeFrak Organization. Rounding out the top four: three entities affiliated with Stephen Ross’ Related Companies. The trio gave a total of $125,000, the review of the latest campaign filings show.

The filings are for donations provided to Cuomo’s campaign coffers between January 12 and July 11. During that time, he raked in a total of $8.4 million from all donors.

Other large real estate contributors include Ron Burkle, the California billionaire who purchased stakes in several Meatpacking buildings and the Soho House company. He gave $60,800.

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Real estate developer Joseph Moinian, CEO of the Moinian Group, donated $30,000. Andrew Farkas, a real estate investor, donated the same. Jane Goldman, an heir to the Sol Goldman fortune and head of the company Solil Management, donated $25,000.

Others who gave $25,000 were Sheldon Solow, the owner of 9 West 57th Street; Michael Mattone, an executive vice president at the development firm the Mattone Group; and Kenneth Fisher, a partner at builder and owner Fisher Brothers.