Park Slope Official Used Campaign Money For Car Payments: Report

PARK SLOPE, NY — An unpaid Park Slope elected official used campaign money for soccer tickets, car payments, cigars and perfume, the New York Post reported.

District leader Jacob Gold spent more than $41,000 in campaign funds from 2007 through 2017 at clothing stores, perfume shops and more, the paper reported.

Gold has served as the Democratic district leader for the district that covers Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington and Ditmas Park for more than 40 years. The post is an unpaid volunteer position that faces re-election every two years but doesn't have term limits.

District leaders advocate for the community's needs to elected officials and the city, register voters and hire Election Day workers — but their biggest power comes in nominating judicial candidates to the State Supreme Court.

Gold faces a challenge for the position in this year's election from Park Slope lawyer Douglas Schneider, who hopes to open up the local Democratic party to new voices.

Campaign records show that Gold, a retired teacher and real-estate agent, used $16,652 in funds from 2008 to 2013 on payments for a Honda, the Post reported.

Throughout that time, Gold also reported spending $536 at a perfume store, $102 for cigars, $471 for New York Cosmos tickets and $2,876 on clothing — including $627.81 at JoS. A. Bank last year, the Post reported.

Using campaign funds for personal expenses is forbidden under state law, but Gold defended the purchases to the Post. He claimed his car payments were "nothing out of the ordinary," the perfume was for "door prizes at [his] political club and gifts for campaign workers" and the Cosmos tickets were for a fundraising raffle.

He also said his more than $15,000 in meals were normal because most of the work for district leaders gets done over diners.

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