An informal adviser to former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has formed a new outside group that appears designed to boost his campaign for mayor of New York City, according to previously unreported state records.
Unlike a pro-Cuomo super PAC that has already spent millions of dollars directly supporting the candidate, the second group, Restore Sanity NYC, is registered as a nonprofit technically engaged in issue advocacy.
That legal status means Restore Sanity NYC cannot directly campaign for a candidate without running afoul of the law. But the structure has advantages, allowing the group to raise and spend unlimited sums without disclosing its donors.
A campaign flier from the nonprofit that arrived in mailboxes this week, for instance, implored voters to “join the majority of New Yorkers who agree on how to get our city back on the right direction.”
While it did not name Mr. Cuomo, it echoed the former governor’s criticism of calls to “defund the police,” stressed the need to “get big things done” — a frequent Cuomo tagline — and singled out the new LaGuardia Airport, a redevelopment project he has made a centerpiece of his campaign.
There may be good reason for the group’s lack of transparency.
State records show that the group was registered in April by Chris Coffey, an informal Cuomo adviser whose business partner is the campaign’s current political director.
The nonprofit has solicited funding from Paul E. Singer, a Republican megadonor who is among President Trump’s most generous supporters, according to people familiar with the request.
Mr. Coffey said via text message that he had separated himself from the effort, but that it was being run by Alex Sommer, his colleague at the consulting firm Tusk Strategies.
Mr. Sommer had no immediate comment.
Rich Azzopardi, a spokesman for Mr. Cuomo’s campaign, said it had no knowledge of the advocacy group.
“We know nothing about this,” he said.
The group also lists board members that include Wayne Lair, a lobbyist; Ebony Meeks-Laidley, a top aide to the former City Council speaker Corey Johnson; and E. O’Brien Murray, a political operative who has worked for both Republicans and Democrats.
It is unclear if Restore Sanity NYC plans to expand its footprint ahead of the June Democratic primary. So far, the group does not appear to have spent any money on television or digital advertising, according to the ad-tracking firm AdImpact.
A pitch deck that Mr. Coffey and Tusk Strategies circulated in March to would-be donors suggested that the nonprofit, which at that point was not named, could engage in four different advocacy plans depending on how much funding it secured.
For example, the company proposed running a digital and direct-mail campaign for $2 million, or, for $8 million, it could put together a strategy involving TV, streaming, digital ads and direct mail, according to a copy of the deck obtained by The New York Times.
The Tusk pitch proposed focusing on public safety and the need for effective “gets things done” management, pointing to infrastructure projects to demonstrate its point, including LaGuardia, but also the new Moynihan Train Hall and the new Kosciuszko Bridge. Mr. Cuomo claims credit for all three.
One lawyer for a donor who was approached to fund the nonprofit, advised against supporting it, expressing concern that the group’s 501(c)4 structure was predicated on a false appearance of independence from the Cuomo campaign. A spokesman for the potential donor said the request had been rejected.
Susan C. Beachy contributed research
Dana Rubinstein covers New York City politics and government for The Times.
Nicholas Fandos is a Times reporter covering New York politics and government.
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