A local fair promoted Constantino's campaign. It was likely illegal.

In late March, an unusual post appeared on the Facebook page for an historic fair in Montgomery County, straying from its usual content about 4-H, race cars and local pageants. It was a re-share of a post by Republican congressional candidate Anthony Constantino, whose message encouraged people to sign nominating petitions at the fairgrounds to help him get on the ballot. Recently endorsed by President Donald J. Trump, Constantino is running to succeed U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik in New York's 21st Congressional District. He's filed petitions to get onto the GOP ballot after the Republican Party endorsed state Assemblyman Robert Smullen in the race. This was not the only time the Fonda Fair, run by the Montgomery County Agricultural Society, has promoted Constantino's campaign, despite the fact that the 501(c)(3) nonprofit is forbidden by state and federal tax laws from supporting candidates for public office. In November, Fonda Fair posted on Facebook about another Constantino campaign event away from the fairgrounds, where the Republican was giving away free turkeys, hoodies, food and sharing "big surprises," according to screenshots of the post. Constantino officially launched his campaign for Congress at that event. But the 43-year-old political newcomer had openly waged an informal congressional campaign for months before that, promoting polling about his candidacy, courting media coverage, gathering volunteers and wracking up campaign expenses. In March 2025, the Fonda Fair told its Facebook followers about Constantino's first town hall in Amsterdam. The invitation shared by the fair directed users seeking more information about the event to visit vote4anthony.com, a website paid for by Constantino for Congress. Constantino's company, Sticker Mule, has been a top sponsor of the Fonda Fair for several years, according to the fair's March 2025 Facebook post. Now the sticker company executive - widely known for the 100-foot-wide "Vote for Trump" sign atop his business - is looking for northern New York voters to support him in the June primary. Mark Wilmot, president of the Fonda Fair, said he's not "tech savvy" and is unsure how the posts made it onto the nonprofit's Facebook page. "That should never have been put there," Wilmot said, adding it was never the intention of the fair to endorse or promote the campaign. The campaign paid the fair a small fee to use its property to collect nominating petitions in March, Wilmot said. He noted both Democrats and Republicans sometimes pay to have booths at the fair. Wilmot said he would not promote one campaign over another because doing so would be bad for business. Mark Wilmot is the cousin of Bill Wilmot, who has worked for Constantino's campaign. Mark Wilmot's wife, Mary Ellen Wilmot, is the fair's secretary. Campaign finance records show Constantino paid Bill Wilmot about $7,700 in March and April last year, around the time of Constantino's first town hall event. Bill Wilmot was serving as head of the campaign's volunteer operations at the time, said Lenny Roudik, Constantino's campaign manager. According to his LinkedIn page, Bill Wilmot worked at Noteworthy. Noteworthy is a promotional products company in Amsterdam run by the Constantino family, until it was "acquired" by Constantino's company Sticker Mule, Constantino said on a podcast called POZcast in 2024. Noteworthy also supported Fonda Fair events when it was operational, Mark Wilmot said. "The campaign did not ask the Fonda Fair to promote campaign events," Roudik said. "The campaign did not know about Fonda Fair's tax classification." The Fonda Fair is one of about 50 county fairs across New York. The fair's been held annually since 1841 in the small village along the Mohawk River, just west of Amsterdam. The fair's primary mission is to promote local agriculture through the fair, exhibits and events, according to the nonprofit's tax records. In 2025, it collected about $1 million in revenue, much of that from its programs, property rental income and government grants. Since 1954, federal law has prohibited certain nonprofits awarded tax-exempt privileges from making political donations, endorsements or otherwise promoting campaigns. New York adopted the same prohibition for 501(c)(3) nonprofits in state tax law seven years ago. The Fonda Fair does not appear to have made any contributions to Constantino's congressional campaign. Direct contributions from corporations to congressional candidates are barred by the Federal Election Commission. Nor does the fair appear to have donated money to state political campaigns, according to state campaign finance records. The Times Union found hundreds of New York nonprofits barred from making contributions have donated to state office political candidates, party groups and PACs over the last decade. That list included colleges like Syracuse University and large nonprofits working on housing and health care issues. Brooklyn is a particular hotspot for 501(c)(3) nonprofits making prohibited contributions, endorsements, displaying campaign literature and other activities to promote candidates, the Times Union found. Years ago, other 501(c)(3) nonprofits that operate fairs have made direct contributions to candidates and parties, the Times Union found. In 2014, Seneca County Agricultural Society, which runs the Seneca County Fair, gave $50 to the Seneca County Republican Committee, state elections data shows. In 2009, the Monroe County Fair and Recreation Association Inc. donated $250 to the Henrietta Republican Committee, money which was refunded. In 1999, the Erie County Agricultural Society, which runs the Erie County Fair, contributed $250 to the campaign of former Democratic Assemblyman Alexander Gromack. The Fonda Fair's decision to allow vendors to display and sell Confederate flag memorabilia has drawn criticism by some in the local community, who believe the symbol is hateful and racist. State law prohibits the display of symbols of hate by municipal governments, citing examples of Confederate flags. Wilmot said the fair's policy permitting Confederate displays remains unchanged. Note: An earlier version of this article gave an incorrect first name for Assemblyman Robert Smullen. Read the investigation Hundreds of nonprofits made illegal campaign contributions in New York Hundreds of New York nonprofits made illegal political donations in the last decade, a Times Union investigation finds. Many of them claimed they made no such contributions in federal tax documents. Brooklyn is a hotspot for illegal election activity by nonprofits Dozens of NYC nonprofits flouted state and federal laws by endorsing and fundraising for state and city candidates. Some allegedly exchanged political support for government funding. Congresswoman asks IRS to probe illegal nonprofit electioneering After a Times Union investigation, NY elections officials issued a new warning, a city auditor has launched a probe and candidates and nonprofits have begun refunding donations. House committees request IRS review nonprofits' election activities Leaders of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee and Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party want the tax agency to scrutinize foreign influence and nonprofits. These colleges and big nonprofits likely made illegal campaign donations Syracuse University, Le Moyne College, Bryant & Stratton College, the Binghamton Philharmonic, Munson Williams Proctor Arts Institute and more are on the list.

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This story was originally published April 27, 2026 at 3:51 PM.