The Board assessed penalties totaling $3,798 for 16 violations committed by four campaigns in the 2013 citywide elections. For details on the violations and penalties for each of the campaigns please refer to the chart below.
Board Chair Rose Gill Hearn said, “Today marks the beginning of the public phase of the Board’s post-election audits for the 2013 election cycle. By the end of this process, the CFB staff will complete full audits for nearly 200 campaigns. I want to take a moment to acknowledge and commend the work that the CFB’s audit and legal staff members have done, and will continue to do, on this vital part of our program.
“These audits are essential to the health of our City’s public financing program. They ensure that all candidates play by the rules. They ensure that the 149 candidates who received more than $38 million in public funds used that money appropriately. The audits provide New Yorkers with the accountability that they expect for their investment in the political process.”
Read the Board Chair’s full statement, including her call for comprehensive campaign finance reform in Albany, on the CFB’s Full Disclosure blog.
Separately, the Board voted to issue for public comment proposed amendments to the Board’s Rules. The proposed revisions clarify disclosure requirements for campaigns and eligibility for public funds.
“The Board wants to ensure the Rules provide the clearest possible guidance to participating candidates. The revisions proposed today will allow the CFB to inform campaigns of reporting and documentation discrepancies earlier in the election cycle, and will make clear that the Board may deny public funds for egregious conduct that is not otherwise enumerated in the Rule,” said Amy Loprest, the CFB’s Executive Director. Visit our Full Disclosure blog to read her entire statement on the proposed Rules changes.
The proposed Rules changes will be published on the CFB’s website and in the City Record, along with the date of a public hearing.
Violations and Penalties
(for details, click on the links in the Total Penalties column)
Candidate | Violation | Penalty | Total Penalties |
Andrew J. Cohen Candidate, 2013, Council District 11 Program Participant: |
Accepting an over-the-limit-contribution. | No Penalty | $713 |
Failing to demonstrate compliance with intermediary reporting and documentation requirements. | $500 | ||
Making impermissible post-election expenditures | $213 |
Candidate | Violation | Penalty | Total Penalties |
Robert Jackson Candidate, 2013, Manhattan Borough President Program Participant: |
Accepting an over-the-limit contribution. | No Penalty | $525 |
Accepting contributions from corporations, limited liability companies, or partnerships. | $400 | ||
Accepting contributions from an unregistered political committee | $125 |
Candidate | Violation | Penalty | Total Penalties |
William Ruiz Candidate, 2013, Council District 32 Program Participant: |
Failing to Provide Bank Statements | $500 | $1, 960 |
Failing to demonstrate compliance with cash receipts reporting and documentation requirements | $85 | ||
Failing to demonstrate compliance with reporting requirements for disbursements | $125 | ||
Failing to report and document basic campaign function/activities. | $500 | ||
Late response to audit documentation and information requests (Initial Documentation Request). | $250 | ||
Failing to respond to audit documentation and information requests (Draft Audit Report). | $500 |
Candidate | Violation | Penalty | Total Penalties |
James Vacca Candidate, 2013, Council District 13 Program Participant: |
Failing to provide bank account statements. | No Penalty | $600 |
Accepting over-the-limit contributions. | $125 | ||
Accepting a contribution from a limited liability partnership. | $225 | ||
Accepting contributions from unregistered political committees. | $250 |
*Does not reflect repayment obligation.
Archived video of today’s meeting will be available at www.nyccfb.info/live