At a regularly scheduled meeting today, the New York City Campaign Finance Board determined that six campaigns involved in the 2013 citywide election cycle committed violations and assessed penalties. In addition, the Board determined that one campaign is required to repay public funds.
The Board ratified the public funds payment to J. Loren Russell, candidate for City Council District 17 in the Bronx, in the special election that will be held on February 23, 2016. The payment, totaling $34,741, was issued on February 9, 2016. The NYC Votes Video Voter Guide will debut on Saturday, February 13 on BronxNet channel 67 (Optimum) or channel 33 (Fios) or online at www.bronxnet.tv.
Board Chair Rose Gill Hearn said, "Voters will have a choice to make on on February 23rd and there is no shortage of information available to help them make an informed choice. We believe that this is the model for empowering voters and I hope everyone in district 17 will take full advantage of this opportunity to get involved."
Details of the Board’s determinations are outlined in the charts below. 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 | Violation | Penalty | Total Penalties |
|
Manuel Caughman Program Participant: |
Making a cash expenditure greater than $100 | $50 | $1,888 |
| Failing to demonstrate that spending was in furtherance of the campaign | $195 | ||
| Making impermissible post-election expenditures | $1,643 |
| Candidate | Violation | Penalty | Total Penalties |
|
Lenford Edie Program Participant: |
Failing to demonstrate compliance with reporting requirements for receipts and disbursements | $750 | $1,900 |
| Failing to document transactions | $500 | ||
| Failing to report and document basic campaign functions/activities | $500 | ||
| Maintaining a petty cash fund greater than $500 | $150 |
| Candidate | Violation | Penalty | Total Penalties |
|
Joan Flowers Did not participate in public funds program |
Failing to provide merchant account statements | No penalty | $4,707 |
| Late filing of disclosure statements | $150 | ||
| Late filing of daily pre-election disclosure statements | $100 | ||
| Failing to demonstrate compliance with subcontractor reporting and documentation requirements | $50 | ||
| Accepting two in-kind contributions from corporations | $1,083 | ||
| Failing to document an in-kind contribution | $100 | ||
| Failing to document loans | $3,074 | ||
| Late response to Draft Audit Report | $150 |
| Candidate | Violation | Penalty | Total Penalties |
|
Stephen Pierson Program Participant: |
Filing a late disclosure statement | No penalty | $357 |
| Failing to demonstrate that spending was in furtherance of the campaign | $100 | ||
| Making impermissible post-election expenditures | $257 |
| Candidate | Violation | Penalty | Total Penalties |
|
Ydanis Rodriguez Program Participant: |
Failing to provide merchant account statements | $500 | $5,653 |
| Accepting over-the-limit contributions | $625 | ||
| Accepting an in-kind contribution from a corporation | $550 | ||
| Accepting contributions from unregistered political committees | $2,922 | ||
| Failing to report and document a transaction | $100 | ||
| Failing to demonstrate compliance with intermediary reporting and documentation requirements | No penalty | ||
| Failing to demonstrate that spending was in furtherance of the campaign | $956 |
| Candidate | Violation | Penalty | Total Penalties |
|
Humberto Soto Program Participant: |
Failing to demonstrate compliance with cash receipts reporting documentation requirements | $105 | $1,080 |
| Failing to demonstrate that spending was in furtherance of the campaign | $797 | ||
| Making impermissible post-election expenditures | $178 |
Public Funds Repayments
| Candidate |
Public Funds Received (does not reflect repayment obligation) |
Public Funds Repayment |
|
Humberto Soto |
$38,070 | $505 |
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