The Brown campaign did not solicit the funds, Carl Paladino said.

The $4,000 to Brown was the largest donation in the 2017 election season to any single candidate state or local candidate, followed by $3,500 to incumbent Erie County Comptroller Stefan I. Mychajliw, Kearn's $2,500 and $1,100 to incumbent Sheriff Timothy B. Howard's re-election campaign.

Paladino during that same period gave somewhat larger contributions to two Republican congressional representatives from New York State, Rep. Tom Reed and Rep. Claudia Tenney, who each received $6,400, records show.

Paladino and his son are registered Republicans, but Carl Paladino said the contributions are apolitical, given to Democrats and Republicans as a way to support good government.

"I think it's an obligation of successful people," Paladino said of helping to finance political campaigns.

The contributions are not an attempt to curry favor or buy access, he said.

"I don't need to buy access. I knock on the door, and if they don't let me in, I knock it down," he said.

While Ellicott Development owns many properties that have government leases, the contributions aren't an attempt to maintain or attract government contracts, he said.