The New York City Campaign Finance Board today announced the payment of the first public matching funds for the 2009 primary elections to qualifying candidates participating in the Campaign Finance Program. A total of $12,823,849 was distributed to 89 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 three Council districts, and declared that a primary run-off election is reasonably anticipated for the comptroller’s race.
“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.
By joining New York City’s voluntary Campaign Finance Program, candidates agree to abide by strict spending limits. In return, candidates in the Program may qualify for public matching funds. Of the 265 active candidates filing disclosures with the CFB, 235 have joined the Campaign Finance Program for the 2009 elections—an 82 percent participation rate, potentially the highest in the history of the Campaign Finance Program.
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 rates 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, 20, and 25, because of the presence of a non-participating candidate who has raised or spent more than half of the applicable spending limit. Under the Tier 1 bonus, eligible contributions are matched at a higher rate, the cap on public funds available is increased, and the spending limit is increased as well.
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.
Additional payment dates. Three additional public funds payment dates are scheduled before the September 15 primary election: August 20, September 2 and September 11. There will be four scheduled payment dates prior to the November 3 general election: October 1, 8, 21, and 29.
The Board also issued two advisory opinions.
Potential run-off primary election for comptroller. The Board also issued an advisory opinion at the request of the 2009 campaign committee of John Liu, candidate for comptroller. Mr. Liu’s campaign requested that the Board make a determination that a Democratic Party run-off primary is “reasonably anticipated” in the comptroller’s race, which would allow candidates to begin raising money for the run-off election. The Board determined that a run-off election is reasonably anticipated.
Non-independent third party expenditures. The Board issued an advisory opinion offering guidance as to how it interprets and implements the law relating to non-independent third party expenditures, in response to a request made by Mark Green, 2009 candidate for public advocate. Non-independent third party expenditures pose a serious threat to New York City’s Campaign Finance Program and the Board is committed to ensuring that the law with respect to non-independent expenditures is enforced vigorously and consistently. The critical question in every case is whether, in light of the facts and indicia of non-independent activity, the campaign authorized, requested, suggested, fostered or otherwise cooperated in a third party’s activity on the campaign’s behalf, and if so, whether such activity was properly accounted for. Because campaigns are the best source of information about the true nature of third party expenditures, candidates are encouraged to report to the Board any information they come across regarding third party expenditures.
Both opinions will be available here later today. Please email press@nyccfb.info if you would like to be notified when they are posted.
Candidate de Blasio, Bill Gioia, Eric Siegel, Norman H Katz, Melinda R Liu, John C Weprin, David I Yassky, David Leavitt, Marc C Chin, Margaret S* Gleason, Peter J* Kim, PJ* Mendez, Rosie Kurland, Yetta G* Passannante-Derr, Maria* Bernace, Victor A Jackson, Robert* Lantigua, Manuel* Mark-Viverito, Melissa Dickens, Inez E Castellanos, Francesca M Rodriguez, Ydanis A* Vargas, Ruben Dario Cassino, Anthony P* Koppell, G. Oliver* Seabrook, Larry B Cabrera, Fernando Escoffery-Bey, Mark Foster, Helen Diane Sierra, Carlos Arroyo, Maria C Behar, Steven Anthony Cooke, Thomas E Iannece, Jerry M* Markell, Debra Vallone, Paul A Jung, S.J.* Sasson, Isaac M* Wu, James M Ferreras, Julissa Giraldo, Jose Eduardo Friedrich, Robert* Singh, Swaranjit* Weprin, Mark S* Dromm, Daniel P* Sears, Helen* Feerick, Deirdre A* Van Bramer, James G* Comrie, Leroy G Nunes, Lynn* White, Jr., Thomas Cohen, Michael L Koslowitz, Karen* Schulman, Lynn C* Leandre, Jacques M* Abraham, Isaac* Baer, Kenneth J Biviano, Douglas J Diamondstone, Kenneth A Levin, Stephen T* Simon, Jo Anne* Thies, Evan R* Davila, Maritza* Esposito, Gerald A Reyna, Diana* James, Letitia Cornegy, Jr., Robert E Grinage, David F* Jones, Saquan U Vann, Albert Gonzalez, Sara M Iglesias, Robinson Heyer, II, John L Lander, Brad S* Reilly, Gary G Skaller, Josh* Zuckerman, Bob* Eugene, Mathieu Tulloch, Leithland R* Boyland, Tracy L Kinard, Tulani Mealy, Darlene Bristol, Carlos A King, Erlene J* McKenzie, Dexter A Stewart, Kendall B Taitt, Samuel A* Williams, Jumaane D Mitchell, Kenneth C Rose, Deborah |
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Payment Total $1,258,138 $1,381,897 $747,544 $612,902 $994,817 $754,181 $1,189,305 $261,619 $84,122 $84,122 $84,122 $21,031 $84,122 $84,122 $77,053 $84,122 $84,122 $83,956 $21,031 $30,677 $84,122 $52,810 $84,122 $84,122 $21,031 $81,670 $41,906 $20,984 $31,492 $20,794 $87,250 $42,410 $101,966 $85,907 $101,919 $101,966 $101,966 $100,901 $21,031 $66,519 $84,122 $84,122 $84,122 $101,966 $101,966 $84,122 $84,122 $83,913 $84,122 $79,281 $59,650 $84,122 $84,122 $84,122 $84,122 $66,359 $54,982 $77,714 $84,122 $84,122 $84,122 $84,122 $73,028 $84,122 $21,031 $73,473 $84,122 $49,744 $70,851 $21,031 $33,385 $83,006 $84,122 $36,651 $84,122 $84,051 $21,031 $84,122 $34,814 $66,211 $66,068 $21,031 $84,122 $69,312 $83,358 $84,122 $83,267 $21,031 $61,189 |
* - indicates candidate has qualified for the maximum public funds payment
† - indicates Tier 1 bonus situation
For more information about the Campaign Finance Board, please visit: www.nyccfb.info.