The New York City Campaign Finance Board today issued public funds payments totaling $107,074 to two candidates in the 2015 elections for Council District 23 in Queens. This is the first payment the Board has issued to candidates in this election.
The Board authorized public funds payments to the following candidates:
| City Council District 23 | |
| Robert Friedrich | $60,534 |
| Satnam Parhar | $46,540 |
New York City’s matching funds program provides public funds to participating candidates at a rate of $6-to-$1 for the first $175 contributed by City residents, for a maximum of $1,050 in public funds per contributor. The low-dollar match encourages candidates to raise small contributions from New Yorkers living in the neighborhoods they hope to represent, instead of relying on large contributions from special interests. For information on the impact of the matching funds program, read the CFB’s report, “By the People: The New York City Campaign Finance Program in the 2013 Elections.”
Candidates choosing to participate in the matching funds program agree to abide by strict spending limits. To receive public funds payments, participating candidates must satisfy all eligibility requirements which include a two-part fundraising threshold.