That’s An In-Kind Donation

City Council candidate calls for volunteers to perform sexy Latin dance at fundraiser, gets noticed by the Daily News:

In a likely New York political first, a cash-strapped City Council candidate is planning a fund-raiser featuring “erotic dancers” – all in a bid to notch taxpayer matching funds.

Victor Bernace insists there’ll be no stripping at the bash, but there will be four babes in bikinis and two studs in Speedos.

The Democrat is hoping the $20-a-head burlesque at the Umbrella Lounge in upper Manhattan next month will give him a ballot-box boost.

“Erotic dancing shows are very common in the [Hispanic] culture, so I don’t think it’s unusual,” said Bernace, an NYU and Harvard-educated lawyer with Cuban roots who’s making his third run for the Washington Heights seat, held by Councilman Robert Jackson.

Now before you start consulting campaign law on the matter, know that the financing guidelines are very clear:

The campaign will hold an “open call” through the its Web site, www.bernace. com, for the dancers, and is seeking “volunteer” bumpers-and-grinders.

That’s because Bernace says he checked with the Campaign Finance Board, and was told he can’t use campaign cash to pay for “erotic dancers.”

The stakes are high, however — the candidate must get to a certain level to get matching funds:

Bernace needs at least 75 donations from residents in the district, totalling $5,000, to qualify for Campaign Finance Board matching funds.

So his publicist friend, Myra Colon, suggested throwing a “Havana Night” fund-raiser honoring his Cuban heritage.

“It’s gonna be more of a sexy Latin dance versus conventional, a-bunch-of-girls-get-naked,” said Colon, adding, “Or guys, for that matter.

“We are also looking at having cigars, a few other typical Cuban things – maybe even tarot card readers.”

Then there’s this blind quote:

Sources said some in Bernace’s camp want to target “middle-age, lonely men” living in the district.

And if it all sounds a little unsavory? Well then that’s just your fault, you prudish, prudish voter! Actually, it kind of sounds like Deadwood:

Asked if the event might seem a tad risque, even by New York standards, Bernace, 41, joked, “It might be unusual if you’re a white Anglo-Saxon or from Utah … [but] I don’t think there’s anything wrong with having a slightly sexy, naughty show to bring in voters and to bring in money.”

Which is obviously exactly what’s going to happen . . . nice work, Daily News!