By: Serach Nissim

Nassau County Legislator Josh Lafazan, who is running in the Aug. 23 primary for the congressional seat representing Long Island’s northern shore, recently disclosed that a billionaire couple covered at least $50,000 of his college tuition payments.

As reported by the NY Post, in a recent financial disclosure Josh Lafazan listed filings that he received a “student loan” totaling $50,001 to $100,000 in September 2020, from billionaire investor Bryan Lawrence and his wife Elizabeth.  The loan is not a violation of federal election law, because it was dated well before the start of his congressional candidacy earlier this year.  Some critics, however, are pointing to the cash saying it may violate the spirit of the law limiting individual donations, especially considering that Lafazan himself is wealthy enough to have poured $166,000 of his own money into his campaign. The critics say he could have just used that money to pay off his student loans.

Lafazan, a county legislator, is also employed as an advisor for Northwell Health.  Last year, he reported earning more than $184,000. He holds a doctorate in education from University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in education from Harvard University, as per his LinkedIn page. The 28-year old Democratic is a frontrunner in the race, and seeks to become one of the youngest members of congress.  He entered race for the 3rd District seat — which includes parts of northeast Queens and northwest and central Nassau County.  The seat was vacated by Democratic incumbent Tom Suozzi, who opted out of re-election, so that he can pursue a bid for NYS governor.

Lafazan will be up against PR maven and longtime Democratic National Committee member Robert Zimmerman and Deputy Suffolk County Executive Jon Kaiman in the primaries later this month. Lafazan has raised more than any Democratic primary candidate, with $1.53 million in his campaign chest for the race, as of June 30.  Whoever wins the Democratic primary will face off against Republican George Santos, a financier and Brazil-native, in the general election. Santos also ran two years ago, but lost to Suozzi.  This year, though, experts say the Republicans have a fighting chance of winning the seat, as there will not be an incumbent running.

The Lawrences also donated a total of $20,300 to Lafazan’s congressional campaign. Records show that Lafazan’s campaign returned $5800 to Bryan Lawrence because the contribution exceeded the maximum amount permitted during an election cycle.

Kim Devlin, an advisor for Lafazan’s campaign, defended the funding from the Lawrences, saying “the facts are that Josh was able to get a loan for graduate school from a friend instead of a bank or school loan company. He fully disclosed it on his public financial disclosure, and it was a loan that was made well before his run for Congress.”

Jerry Goldfeder, a longtime election lawyer, told The Post: “The FEC looks very carefully at the sources of a candidate’s money when they are making huge contributions or loans to their own campaign because it has to be their own money legitimately.”

The FEC declined comment.