CFB Announces Third Public Funds Payments for 2009 General Elections to 15 Candidates, Issues Determination

The New York City Campaign Finance Board today announced the payment of public matching funds for the 2009 general elections to qualifying candidates participating in the Campaign Finance Program. A total of $77,769 was distributed to 15 candidates who qualified for matching funds on this third payment date. For a list of candidates, please see below. The Board also issued a final determination in response to a complaint filed by New Yorkers for Thompson against Michael Bloomberg and Bloomberg for Mayor 2009 regarding political contributions made from personal funds.

 

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. 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.

 

Additional payment date. One additional public funds payment date is scheduled before the November 3 general election, on October 29.

 

Other Board Actions
 

Final determination. The Board issued a final determination in response to a complaint filed on August 20 by New Yorkers for Thompson against Michael Bloomberg and Bloomberg for Mayor 2009 regarding political contributions made from Bloomberg’s personal funds.

 

The Board finds that political contributions made by Bloomberg, and all candidates, with their personal funds to political committees that support candidates in New York City and throughout New York State are campaign expenditures in furtherance of their campaigns. The Board has never previously clarified for candidates that they must report to the Board political contributions made with personal funds. Therefore, candidates—including Bloomberg—who have not reported these political contributions for the 2009 election cycle will not be found in violation of the Act or Board Rules, and such contributions will not be considered in the Board’s audit review of disclosure reports.

 

Beginning January 12, 2010, all candidates must report these political contributions to the Board as expenditures unless the contributions are not in furtherance of the campaign.

 

Any failure to report such contributions may result in a finding of a violation of the Act and Board Rules.

 

The full written determination can be found on the CFB website.