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Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Queens Teacher: Follow the Money

Queens Teacher: Follow the Money

Follow the Money

Old-school politic$
By BRENDAN SCOTT

ALBANY -- Wealthy boosters of charter schools, led by billionaire hedge-funder Bruce Kovner, were among the top donors to candidates for state office in 2010, according to a fund-raising analysis released yesterday.

The campaign-finance report by a coalition of good-government groups found Kovner, whose hedge fund, Caxton Associates, manages some $10 billion in assets, gave $283,200 to state campaigns last year, more than any other individual donor.

Kovner's contributions crossed party lines, including $55,900 to Democratic former Gov. David Paterson. The financier gave $130,000 to Republican candidates in their successful effort to recapture the state Senate.

The Brooklyn-born and Harvard-educated hedge-fund manager keeps a low profile on the city's social scene but