A National Legal-Action Antismoking Organization
Entirely Supported by Tax-Deductible Contributions
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Action on Smoking and Health
A National Legal-Action Antismoking Organization Entirely Supported by Tax-Deductible Contributions
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The publisher of Cigar Aficionado magazine, Marvin Shanken, arranged more than $27,000 in campaign donations for Democrat Fernando Ferrer, a former Bronx borough president, Ferrer's office said.
The money came from such donors as Edgar Cullman Jr., chief executive of General Cigar in New York, executives from Altadis USA, the U.S. division of Altadis, S.A., in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Holt's Cigar Co. in Philadelphia, the office said.
The city's smoking ban took effect almost two years ago and prohibits smoking in all workplaces, including bars and restaurants. It is unpopular with tobacco-related industries, and many bar owners say it has hurt business, but polls show a majority of voters support the anti-smoking move that was pushed strongly by the Republican mayor.
At the time the ban was implemented, Ferrer was quoted as saying he thought the law against smoking may have gone too far.
A spokeswoman for Ferrer said the donations were the result of a strong alliance and not a campaign to rescind the ban.
"Marvin Shanken is a good long-term friend of Fernando Ferrer's," she said. "Fernando Ferrer will not overturn the smoking ban, he will examine it to assess it is being implemented fairly."
Ferrer, who has run twice before for mayor, tied with the mayor in a recent opinion poll and leads the other four Democrats likely to join the race.
Bloomberg's spokesman, Edward Skyler, said Ferrer was risking political points.
"If he wants to be known as the pro-cancer candidate, that's on him," he said.y
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