Amber Adler, a Democrat, and Igor Kazatsker, an independent on the “Team Trump” line, are theoretically running against each other — and against incumbent Republican Inna Vernikov in this month’s City Council race for South Brooklyn’s 48th District.
But the two campaigns share the same attorney, and have given thousands of dollars to the same campaign consulting firms — sparking concerns from election experts and complaints from Vernikov about the true purpose of their political operations.Campaign finance records show that a consulting group called “APOC NY Inc.” scored more than $14,000 and $27,000 from Adler and Kazatsker respectively. Another group, North Shore Strategies LLC, drew more than $31,000 from Adler and $4,000 from Kazatsker, which came when he was running in the Republican primary against Vernikov.
Adler’s campaign scored more than $108,000 in public matching dollars, thanks to a city program that gives candidates money to amplify small individual donations. Kazatsker’s team scored more than $51,000 through the same program.
Meanwhile, both campaigns are paying the same election attorney, Aaron Foldenauer, as the New York Post previously reported. Foldenauer declined to comment for this story.
Vernikov, an incumbent currently facing charges for allegedly bringing a gun to a protest, has accused Kazatsker of participating in a vote-splitting scheme to help the Democrat.
“People need to be made aware that this is a made-up line with no connection to Trump,” she told The New York Post.