Its disingenuous to imply the governors staff has no power or authority.
No, but apparently you did.
Tammany Hall was a method set up by a small group of wealthy and powerful men who supplied money to a select few and set them up in positions of real power (Police Captains and Chiefs, Judges, Directors of the Water Commission, Harbor Commission, and other select offices and positions of trust, people who had decision making roles and power over key aspects of government operation.
Its disingenuous to imply the governors staff has no power or authority.
No it is not. It is realistic. They have no authority or power to make decisions, cast votes, sign or veto legislation, which is what "Power or Authority" means.
money that came from ... the governor's campaign.
I believe the article is purposefully written to imply impropriety, thus it inserts some of the many contributors to the campaign. Some have fallen for this manipulative trick, yourself included. Cutting out the inflammatory rhetoric, the bottom line is campaign funds were used and that my friend is legal.
In all seriousness, if the Times thought this was illegal, it would have been far harder on him and more direct in stating such. Unless you have an answer to that observation, your position is w/o merit.