City Comptroller William Thompson, a Democratic mayoral hopeful, has received more than $83,000 in donations to his war chest from lobbyists with city business during the time he has been considered a likely contender for City Hall, a review of records shows.

And in the last 10 years, donations to his various campaigns from lobbyists or similar groups total close to $400,000.

The donations since 2006 were made during the time Mayor Bloomberg and Council Speaker Christine Quinn were trying to reduce the appearance of “pay to play” by severely limiting the size of donations from the amount lobbyists with city business could give.

Since Thompson’s first public-office run, in the 2001 comptroller’s race, his campaigns took in $382,000 from lobbyists or groups that lobby, according to campaign-finance records.

For his mayoral bid, Thompson has raised less from lobbyists than he did during his two comptroller races, and his campaign says he has fully complied with the law.

“This sounds like some opposition research that someone’s feeding you,” said Thompson campaign manager Eddie Castel.

“Bill Thompson has never looked at who’s contributing to him,” and it hasn’t affected his job, he added.

Another likely major Democratic candidate, Rep. Anthony Weiner, has received far less in donations from lobbyists, records show – tens of thousands to his congressional and mayoral campaigns combined.

But Weiner, who has no control over city policy in his current job, did receive four contributions from lobbyists after he pledged in May 2008 not to take money from them.

Spokesman John Collins said the congressman would return any funds from donors who were registered as lobbyists at the time they made the donations.

Source: NY Post