The New York City Campaign Finance Board today announced the first payment of public matching funds for the 2009 general elections to qualifying candidates participating in the Campaign Finance Program. A total of $3,104,657 was distributed to 52 candidates who qualified for matching funds on this first payment date. For a list of candidates, please see below. The Board also declared a Tier 1 bonus situation in two Council districts and a Tier 2 bonus situation in the race for mayor, and ruled on a 5-02(a) petition filed by 2009 City Council candidate James Van Bramer (CD#26).
“The CFB’s public matching funds program amplifies the impact of New Yorkers’ small contributions, makes candidates less dependent on large contributions, and helps candidates mount competitive campaigns with grassroots support,” said Amy Loprest, Executive Director of the Campaign Finance Board.
The Program matches each dollar a New York City resident gives, up to $175 per contributor, with six dollars in public funds, for a maximum of $1,050 in public funds per contributor.
Qualifications for public funds. To qualify for public financing, candidates who join the Program must be on the ballot and have opposition on the ballot. They must demonstrate compliance with the Campaign Finance Act, and they must also demonstrate they have adequate support from the public by meeting a two-part threshold. Candidates must raise a minimum amount of money in “matching claims” (i.e. up to $175 of contributions from New York City residents) and collect contributions from a minimum number of individuals. Threshold requirements vary by office.
Maximum public funds available. The maximum amount each candidate can receive in matching funds is capped at 55 percent of the applicable spending limit. Pursuant to the Campaign Finance Act, the CFB withholds five percent of each candidate’s public funds payment until the final pre-election payment for each election to ensure continued compliance with the law.
Bonus determinations. Candidates may qualify for additional bonus matching funds when facing a high-spending opponent not participating in the Campaign Finance Program. The Board has made determinations of “Tier 1” bonuses for participating candidates in Council Districts 19 and 20, because of the presence of a non-participating candidate who has raised or spent more than half the applicable spending limit. The Board has also declared a “Tier 2” bonus in the race for mayor, because of the presence of a non-participating candidate who has raised or spent three times the applicable spending limit. When a bonus situation is declared, eligible contributions are matched at a higher rate, the cap on public funds is increased, and the spending limit is increased or lifted.
Limited public funds against “nominal” opposition. A candidate participating in the Campaign Finance Program whose opponent has not raised or spent an amount greater than one-fifth of the expenditure limit for that office is only entitled to 25 percent of the maximum amount of public funds. However, a participating candidate can file a “Statement of Need” to receive the full payment of public funds for which he or she is eligible. The signed, certified Statement of Need must be accompanied by supporting documents to demonstrate that certain conditions to justify full payment have been met, as detailed in the Campaign Finance Act. Statements of Need filed by candidates will be posted on the CFB website as they are received.
Statements of Need. The Board received Statements of Need from City Council candidates Vincent Gentile (CD #43) and Lew Fidler (CD #46).
Candidates seeking public funds in General Election after losing in Primary. Candidates who lost a primary election but remain on the ballot for the general election and wish to be eligible for a public finds payment must file a certified statement with the Board to attest they are actively campaigning for office. Four candidates for City Council filed statements that were approved by the Board: Bob Friedrich (CD #23), Mark Winston Griffith (CD #36), Kendall Stewart (CD #45), and Ruben Wills (CD #28).
Determination. The Board also decided on a Rule 5-02(a) petition filed by 2009 City Council candidate James Van Bramer (CD #26) to challenge a determination of nonpayment at the Board’s September 11 meeting. The Board denied the petition, affirming the September 11 determination.
Additional payment dates. Three additional public funds payment dates are scheduled before the November 3 general election: October 8, 21, and 29.
Payments Issued on October 1, 2009
2009 Citywide Elections
Candidate Thompson, Jr., William C de Blasio, Bill Liu, John C Marshall, Helen M Molinaro, James P Chin, Margaret S Mendez, Rosie Chandra, Ashok Jackson, Robert Dickens, Inez E Rodriguez, Ydanis A Seabrook, Larry B Cabrera, Fernando Foster, Helen Diane Arroyo, Maria C Nestler, Walter G Serpe, Lynne Friedrich, Robert Weprin, Mark S* Dromm, Daniel P Maragos, Angelo Van Bramer, James G White, Jr., Thomas Wills, Ruben W Koslowitz, Karen Crowley, Elizabeth S Ognibene, Thomas V* Sanders, Jr., James J Gulluscio, Frank P Ulrich, Eric A* Levin, Stephen T Reyna, Diana James, Letitia Griffith, Mark W Vann, Albert Gonzalez, Sara M Lander, Brad S Pechefsky, David J Eugene, Mathieu Mealy, Darlene Barron, Charles Capano, Robert P* Gentile, Vincent J* Stewart, Kendall B Williams, Jumaane D Fidler, Lewis A* Nelson, Michael C Rose, Deborah Oddo, James S* Pocchia, James M* Ignizio, Vincent M* Materna, Janine* |
Office Sought Mayor† Public Advocate Comptroller Queens Borough President Staten Island Borough President City Council#01 City Council#02 City Council#04 City Council#07 City Council#09 City Council#10 City Council#12 City Council#14 City Council#16 City Council#17 City Council#18 City Council#22 City Council#23 City Council#23 City Council#25 City Council#26 City Council#26 City Council#28 City Council#28 City Council#29 City Council#30 City Council#30 City Council#31 City Council#32 City Council#32 City Council#33 City Council#34 City Council#35 City Council#36 City Council#36 City Council#38 City Council#39 City Council#39 City Council#40 City Council#41 City Council#42 City Council#43 City Council#43 City Council#45 City Council#45 City Council#46 City Council#48 City Council#49 City Council#50 City Council#50 City Council#51 City Council#51 |
Payment Total $837,420 $29,788 $4,845 $12,910 $180,989 $21,031 $21,031 $2,280 $14,432 $21,031 $60,939 $15,715 $171 $4,560 $21,031 $33,573 $75,115 $68,560 $84,122 $21,031 $64,353 $83,026 $11,586 $11,947 $73,598 $71,535 $84,122 $20,794 $72,475 $84,122 $21,031 $72,960 $21,031 $14,011 $36,457 $21,031 $21,031 $45,001 $20,132 $142 $3,716 $84,122 $84,122 $26,564 $58,841 $84,122 $21,031 $24,692 $84,122 $84,122 $84,122 $84,122 |
* - indicates candidate has qualified for the maximum public funds payment
† - indicates Tier 2 bonus situation
After the Board approved this payment, the Board received a letter from the de Blasio campaign indicating that it intends to decline public matching funds for the general election.
For more information about the Campaign Finance Board, please visit: www.nyccfb.info.