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Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner, right, shares a laugh with Hillary Clinton at the Institute of Technology at Syracuse Central, Friday April 1, 2016. Miner, a co-chair of Clinton's New York presidential campaign, donated $1,500 to Bernie Sanders delegates who are raising money to attend the Democratic National Convention. Michael Greenlar | mgreenlar@syracuse.com

(Michael Greenlar)

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner, a super delegate for Hillary Clinton, surprised local Bernie Sanders delegates on Wednesday by picking up part of their bill to attend the Democratic National Convention.

Miner donated $1,500 to a GoFundMe account set up by five Sanders delegates from the Syracuse area who could not afford the hotel and transportation costs to attend the convention next week in Philadelphia.

The two-term mayor, a member of Clinton's New York Leadership Council, made the donation after reading an article at Syracuse.com about the fundraising appeal by the Sanders delegates.

As of Wednesday morning, the Sanders delegates had raised $2,419 toward their goal of $4,000.

Miner surprised the Sanders delegates by donating $1,500 on Wednesday afternoon, bringing the total raised to $4,006.

The mayor wrote on the group's GoFundMe page: "Job well done, enjoy the convention." She signed the post with her initials, "SAM."

Miner, reached Wednesday night, said, "It was a donation made to encourage them to stay active in the process."

Lauren Livingston, of Syracuse, an at-large delegate for Sanders from New York, said she was surprised by the gesture from a person that some of her colleagues view as an enemy.

"I'm not sure how to react at this point," Livingston said in an interview, adding she will discuss with other delegates whether they will accept the donation.

"Regardless of anybody's personal feelings, I think it's a generous offering," Livingston said. "It's certainly kind of her to do that, even if we have not been necessarily in line with each other through this year. That says a lot for her as a human being, and I appreciate that a great deal."

Miner said it doesn't matter to her that the delegates support Sanders.

"I'm somebody who has been politically active for a long time, and I remember people along the way helping me do things that I would not otherwise have been able to do," she said. "I think our democracy is stronger when we invite everybody to participate."

Asked if she would use her donation to open a dialogue with Sanders delegates about supporting Clinton in the November election, Miner said, "It was an offer made in the spirit of generosity. There were no strings attached."

If the Sanders delegates accept the contribution, the timing would be ideal, Livingston said. The group was notified Wednesday that they are $26 short of the $1,850 deposit they are required to make to avoid cancellation of their Philadelphia hotel reservation.

"I was sitting here an hour ago, moving money around from a personal account to try to cover the deposit," Livingston said.

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