Malliotakis returned the cash -- a total of $2,000 from three separate donors -- after the Staten Island Advance questioned her about it, calling it a misunderstanding of campaign finance regulations. Her donors reissued their contributions in the form of checks. (Cash contributions are limited to $100 or less.)
Hyer-Spencer questioned the fact that 3 of Malliotakis' contributions, totalling 9,300, came from the same business address in St. George, Staten Island.
Malliotakis countered that the businesses were separate entities that did not exceed the $3,800 individual limit.
Malliotakis charged that half of Hyer-Spencer's money comes from special interests.
Hyer-Spencer countered that her contributions -- from unions -- are legitimate.
Hyer-Spencer, who has been criticized in Staten Island for not doing enough local fund-raising, has raised $36,384 to Malliotakis' $40,527 -- which Malliotakis says reflects her grassroots support in the district.
The article from SI Live.
