TOWN OF NEWBURGH – Democratic supervisor candidate Stephen Krasner has yet to answer questions about the value of free campaign services provided by Kwill.io LLC, whether they were reported as in-kind contributions under state election law or if campaign-finance filings need to be amended.
Krasner previously acknowledged that his campaign paid nothing to Kwill, whose owner, Joshua Huckabee, built and hosted the campaign website and helped design a campaign mailer. Krasner said his treasurer was reviewing how to disclose the services.
Krasner has not disclosed their value or confirmed whether they were reported as contributions. Under state campaign-finance rules, certain goods and services provided to a campaign without charge may qualify as in-kind contributions subject to disclosure requirements.
Former FBI agent David Shapiro, MPA, director of the Inspection and Oversight Program at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City, said complete responses from Krasner could complicate claims of independence from Kwill and people associated with the company in relation to election-law requirements.
“Whether wrongdoing was in the incipient stages of discovery by the media with accompanying wide disclosure to the public should be considered,” Shapiro added.
Kwill has ties to Orange County Legislator Stephen Hunter, a Democrat who represents the Town of Newburgh. Hunter was previously listed as a co-founder of the company, but its website now identifies Huckabee as its sole owner.
Kwill also previously listed Krasner’s campaign website among its clients but later removed it. Huckabee built and hosted the site without charge, according to Krasner.
Hunter has said he has no ownership interest or formal role with Kwill and is not involved in its operations. Kwill recently removed the Krasner campaign website from its list of featured clients. Krasner did not answer questions about whether he was consulted before the listing was removed or whether he was given a reason
“It seems that Hunter and Krasner are deeply learning the legal effects of in-kind contributions to a campaign vs. independent expenditures uncoordinated by the candidates,” said Shapiro, a frequent contributor to Mid-Hudson News. “A plausible argument could be made that consciousness of guilt induced the politicians to present to the public a belated appearance of independence from Kwill. Whether this guilt is grounded in fear of having been discovered to violate election law(s) remains a factual and evidentiary issue.
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