Source: Fox News
Summary
Brian Romero, the Democratic nominee for New York’s 34th Assembly District, removed a GoFundMe campaign after the New York Post inquired about the fundraiser, which sought $2,000 to help with living expenses. Romero said he left his job as a senior adviser to state Sen. Kristen Gonzalez earlier this year after receiving ethics guidance once he became a candidate for Assembly. He has exhausted his savings while searching for consulting work and has been unable to collect unemployment benefits. The fundraiser drew criticism because Romero is expected to easily win the heavily Democratic district, where he would earn the state Assembly’s $142,000 annual salary once sworn into office.
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As expected, the matter has reached another stage.
Brian Romero, a Democratic Socialist, sets up a GoFundMe campaign to cover his rent and grocery bills while waiting to take office. He removes it after the New York Post inquires about the fundraiser. Romero says he left his job as a senior adviser to state Sen. Kristen Gonzalez earlier this year and has exhausted his savings. He is expected to easily win the heavily Democratic district, where he would earn the state Assembly’s $142,000 annual salary once sworn into office. The fundraiser raises questions about the financial realities of running for office.
Romero’s decision to create a GoFundMe campaign feels like a familiar performance: a politician asking for help, a public display of vulnerability, and a quick removal of the campaign after scrutiny.
