Albany, NY - Stop Raising Cash, Pataki Tells Mills

Albany, NY - Governor George Pataki slammed state insurance Commissioner Howard Mills for accepting political donations while holding a top state job, after it was unveiled that he accepted contributions from Kiryas Joel Trustee Jacob Freund.

The governor said it was inappropriate, "We've made that plain to him," Pataki said, "We don't believe that people in appointive office - commissioners or others working for the state - should be in a position of raising political funds. Period."

Late last summer, Mills accepted contributions from Brooklyn residents with ties to Kiryas Joel, Monroe, NY. Kiryas Joel Trustee Jacob Freund said he solicited the Brooklyn donations for Mills. "I helped him because he helped the community in the past," Freund said.
Mills said he would stop accepting donations through the end of his tenure as commissioner, he will, however, keep the campaign account open, he wants to continue donating to Republican causes.