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Board Votes on Enforcement Matters for Five Campaigns in the 2013 Elections

June 9, 2016

At a regularly scheduled meeting today, the New York City Campaign Finance Board determined that five campaigns involved in the 2013 citywide election cycle committed violations and assessed penalties. In addition, the Board determined that four campaigns are required to repay public funds. Details of the Board’s determinations are outlined in the charts below.

Board Chair Rose Gill Hearn made the following statement: "Yesterday, Governor Cuomo issued a proposal to strengthen the definitions of coordination in state law. His proposal mirrors the strong and clear standards the Board has been applying for years to ensure candidates and independent expenditure committees remain truly independent. Unlike state or federal regulators, the Campaign Finance Board has a long track record of assessing substantial penalties to candidates and consultants who violate those standards. Clear standards and strong enforcement help protect the city’s system from unlimited, undisclosed, unaccountable money.

"Governor Cuomo and all state lawmakers should know that New York City’s matching funds program is more important than ever in helping average New Yorkers make their voices heard in our elections. Several candidates used public matching funds to overcome massive independent expenditures against them and win election in 2013. This is why citizens and lawmakers from Maryland to Illinois to Oregon are using New York City as a model for reform."

Read the full statement here

Archived video of today’s meeting is available at www.nyccfb.info/live.

Violations and Penalties
(for details, follow the link in Total Penalties column)

Candidate
(Election Cycle)
Office Violation Penalty Total
Penalties
Eric Adams
(2013)
 
 
Program participant
$0 public funds
received
Borough President
(Brooklyn)
Failing to provide merchant account statements $500 $1,870
Failing to file daily pre-election disclosure statements $250
Accepting an over-the-limit contribution $125
Accepting a corporate contribution $70
Accepting two contributions from unregistered political committees $225
Failing to demonstrate compliance with intermediary reporting and documentation requirements No Penalty
Failing to document transactions $700
Failing to demonstrate spending was in furtherance of the campaign No Penalty

 

Candidate
(Election Cycle)
Office Violation Penalty Total
Penalties
Kimberly Council
(2013)

Program participant:
$104,336
public funds
received

 City Council (District #37) Failing to demonstrate compliance with reporting requirements for receipts $250 $3,408
Accepting contributions from a corporation and a limited liability company $350
Accepting contributions from an unregistered political committee $275
Failing to demonstrate compliance with intermediary reporting and documentation requirements $100
Failing to demonstrate that spending was in furtherance of the campaign $100
Making impermissible post-election expenditures $247
Late response to the initial documentation request $2,086

 

Candidate
(Election Cycle)
Office Violation Penalty Total
Penalties
Joseph Lhota
(2013)
 
Program participant:
$3,128,034
Public funds
received
Mayor Failing to file daily pre-election disclosure statements $350 $2,846
Accepting contributions from corporations, limited liability companies, or partnerships $950
Failing to document transactions $846
Failing to demonstrate compliance with intermediary reporting and documentation requirements  
$700

 

Candidate
(Election Cycle)
Office Violation Penalty Total
Penalties
John Quaglione
(2013)
 
Program participant:
$92,400
Public funds received
 City Council (District #43) Failing to report transactions $248 $648
Failing to demonstrate compliance with reporting requirements for receipts or disbursements $250
Filing a late disclosure statement $50
Failing to file daily pre-election disclosure statements $100

 

Candidate
(Election Cycle)
Office Violation Penalty Total
Penalties

Jumaane Williams 
(2013)

 
Program participant:
$46,200
Public funds
received

 City Council (District #45) Failing to report bank and merchant accounts used for campaign purposes $500 $7,806
Failing to provide bank and merchant account statements $500
Filing a late disclosure statement No Penalty
Accepting contributions from corporations, limited liability companies, or partnerships $2,150
Accepting contributions from unregistered political committees $1,050
Failing to document transactions $400
Failing to demonstrate that spending was in furtherance of the campaign $939
Making impermissible post-election expenditures $1,767
Commingling campaign funds with funds accepted for a different election $500

 

Public Funds Repayments

Candidate Public Funds Received
(does not reflect repayment obligation)
Public Funds Repayment

Kimberly Council
(2013)
 City Council (District #37) 

$104,336 $1,180
Joseph Lhota
(2013)
Mayor
$3,128,034 $1,131.05*
John Quaglione
(2013)
City Council (District #43)
$92,400 $3,442.84*
Jumaane Williams
(2013)
City Council (District #45)
$46,200 $1,245.31*

*Reflects estimated funds remaining in campaign bank account.

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