Republican mayoral hopeful Mike Bloomberg has set up a olitical committee for his Education First Party – even though he can’t use that party name to get another ballot line, The Post has learned.
While Bloomberg has spent $17 million so far in his self-funded campaign, the Education First Party Committee’s coffers are bare so far, Board of Elections records show.
Bloomberg set up the committee two weeks ago, listing its mailing address as his accountant’s offices and his campaign treasurer as its bookkeeper.
The Board of Elections filings say the committee isn’t “authorized” by Bloomberg.
His spokesman, Ed Skyler, said that was done to thwart accusations that the billionaire is using the committee to hide how much he’s spending on his City Hall bid.
Skyler said that the campaign’s lawyers decided not to have Bloomberg authorize the committee “to prevent accusations of creative bookkeeping.”
Skyler insisted the media mogul won’t pour his own money into the committee – so it’s not clear where its funding will come from, or how it will be used.
Bloomberg has been told by the Board of Elections that he and Alan Hevesi have to change the names of their proposed third-party lines, since both used the word “education” and election laws prohibit two lines with similar names.