Well this is certainly a positive campaign. 

In his first press release since announcing his candidacy for Accounts Commissioner about a month and a half ago, John Arpei issues a press release reminding people to re-register for their Basic STAR Property Tax Savings. 

Here is the release, copied and pasted (though I removed his cell number):

PRESS RELEASE:                Please release immediately 8/27/13

CONTACT:           John Arpei, candidate for Commissioner of Accounts for the City of Saratoga Springs

                             Candidate for the Republican Party, Conservative Party and Write in Candidate on the

                                Independence Party line.

                                Cell: ---------------

                                Email: John.Arpei@gmail.com

               

John Arpei, candidate for Commissioner of Accounts for the City of Saratoga Springs on the Republican and Conservative lines would like to make homeowners aware that now is the time to re-register for their  Basic STAR Property Tax Savings progam.

Homeowners can do so by visiting the Tax Department website at www.tax.ny.gov or by calling (518)457-2036.

It is important for them to re-register before December 31^st, 2013 and they may do so now. More Information is available at www.tax.ny.gov/pit/property/star13.htm.

It occurs to me that this break-out box (as they are called) that appeared in print never made it online. I wrote a story on the mayor's race, but here is what all of the other city politicians have been doing:

Office	Candidate	Starting balance	$ Raised	$ Spent
Accounts	John Franck	$8,636	$7,798	$2,556
	John Arpei	$0	$100	$0
Public Safety	Christian Mathiesen	$3,372	$0	$76
	Richard Wirth	$31	$6,291	$1,083
Public Works	Anthony "Skip"     Scirocco	$949	$9,273	$2,022
	William McTygue	$0	$9,977	$1,080
Finance	Michele Madigan	$2,386	$6,939	$2,684

A few things to point out.


John Franck seems to have the most money on hand of any candidate (except those for mayor). Most of his money has come in $100 and $200 contributions, though there is one $2,323 unitemized entry from February, which is likely his annual fundraiser.


John P. Arpei's $100 reported Monday was contributed by John P. Arpei, but then he only officially announced he was running two weeks ago.

Christian Mathiesen didn't just not raise or spend any money as of Monday, but he filed a "no activity statement" last week indicating he hadn't done any fundraising or spending between the January and July periodic filings. The "Starting balance" was actually from his January disclosure.


Richard Wirth received mostly small contributions with two notable exceptions: $1,000 from both Leon Pokoik from Sarasota, Fla., and the Saratoga Springs Republican Committee. I also noticed a couple police officers on his list, but they were for under $100 apiece.


Anthony "Skip" Scirocco's money has come with a few big contributions. There was a $500 from Minerva Coins and Jewelry and a $1,000 from the Saratoga County Republican Committee. He also has a list of unitemized: one for $4,019 from June and another for $500 even from April. The latter seems a little odd to me, since they are usually aggregate numbers from small donations or transfers...


William McTygue started with nothing earlier this year and raised about the same amount as Scirocco between January and July. Most of it came in small contributions, though there were two $500 ones from Charles Morrison and Bonnie Design. There was also an unitemized donation from July for $2,618.


Despite not having an opponent, Michele Madigan has raised a relatively substantial sum in the last six months. Her biggest single contributor was the Police Benevolent Association (She also has managed to get more cops hired, so you know…) with $1,000. She was the only candidate they contributed to. She also received a $445 contribution from Sheila A’Hearn.

She also received unitemized contributions of $245, $975 and $1,374, all on the same day in March.

If you are interested, visit the Board of Elections website and type in the name of the candidate you want to look at.  When the next screen comes up, you can look at all of the individual pieces of the candidate's fundraising committee.

For donations, scroll to the bottom and select the year you want. Then click "Get List" to see contributors that year.

It's been quite some time since John Arpei was endorsed by the Saratoga Springs GOP to make a run for Commissioner of Accounts. A little more than a month after Arpei was endorsed and said he would make his announcement official within the week, he is prepared to make that announcement... within the week. 

Here is the brief announcement from the GOP:

"John Arpei will formally announce his candidacy for Commissioner of Accounts of the City of Saratoga Springs this Wednesday, July 10 at 12:30 pm in Congress Park near the veteran’s bricks.
Dave Harper
Chair, Saratoga Springs City Republican Committee"

This will make the first time since 2007 when he took office that Accounts Commissioner John Franck will have opposition.

*Update*

I received another announcement about Arpei's announcement. This time from Debbie Harper (not sure if or what the relationship is to Dave Harper). This one had a little more personal flair.

"Long time resident, John Arpei is announcing his run for Commissioner of Accounts for the City of Saratoga Springs on his birthday. Wednesday, July 10^th at 12:30 pm he will gather with friends, relatives and supporters at the Veteran’s Walk located in Congress Park. There, at his Father’s memorial brick he will declare his candidacy."