At a regularly scheduled meeting today, the New York City Campaign Finance Board determined that seven campaigns involved in the 2013 citywide election cycle committed violations and assessed penalties. In addition, the Board determined that one campaign will receive a post-election public funds payment and that two campaigns are required to repay public funds. Details of the Board’s determinations are outlined in the charts below.
The Board welcomed new member Naomi Zauderer who was appointed on February 27, 2016, by Mayor de Blasio.
Board Chair Rose Gill Hearn said: "We look forward to working closely with you to help uphold our city’s landmark campaign finance law. Welcome aboard! I want to thank out-going Board Member Courtney Hall, who has graced this Board with his intelligence, dedication and passion since 2010. Courtney’s contributions to the CFB were invaluable and we wish him the very best."
The Board ratified public funds payments to three candidates who participated in the City Council special election for District 17 in the Bronx last month. The payment, totaling $78,269, was issued on February 18, 2016.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Raquel Batista Program Participant: |
Converting campaign funds to a personal use | $929 | $1,633 |
| Making impermissible post-election expenditures | $654 | ||
|
Failing to respond/late response to audit documentation and information requests |
$50 |
| Candidate | Violation | Penalty | Total Penalties |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Costa Constantinides Program Participant: |
Failing to provide bank/merchant account statements | $500 | $1,943 |
| Accepting over-the-limit contributions | $500 | ||
| Accepting contributions from unregistered political committees | $450 | ||
| Making impermissible post-election expenditures | $493 |
| Candidate | Violation | Penalty | Total Penalties |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Hesham El-Meligy Did not participate in |
Failing to report a bank account used for campaign purposes | $35 | $825 |
| Failing to provide bank/merchang account statements | $71 | ||
| Maintaining a 52.38% cash deposit variance | $7 | ||
| Maintaining variances in reporting disbursement and receipts | $71 | ||
| Failing to file and late filing of disclosure statements | $641 | ||
| Late response to Initial Documentation Request | No penalty |
| Candidate | Violation | Penalty | Total Penalties |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Rafael Espinal, Jr. Program Participant: |
Accepting an over-the-limit doing business contribution | $250 | $1,409 |
| Accepting a contribution from a corporation | $300 | ||
| Accepting in-kind contributions from unregistered political committees | $759 | ||
| Failing to document a transaction | $100 |
| Candidate | Violation | Penalty | Total Penalties |
|---|---|---|---|
|
David Garland Program Participant: |
Accepting a contribution from an unregistered political committee |
$250 | $602 |
| Converting campaign funds to a personal use | $178 | ||
| Making impermissible post-election expenditures | $174 |
| Candidate | Violation | Penalty | Total Penalties |
|---|---|---|---|
|
John Lisyanskiy (Waldman) Program Participant: |
Accepting over-the-limit contributions | $1,536 | $5,258 |
| Making impermissible post-election expenditures | $161 | ||
| Cooperating in expenditures reported to be independent | $3,561 |
Public Funds Repayments
| Candidate |
Public Funds Received (does not reflect repayment obligation) |
Public Funds Repayment |
|
John Lisyanskiy (Waldman) |
$92,400 | $568.89* |
|
Raquel Batista Candidate, 2013 City Council District 15 |
$89,940 | $463.16* |
*Reflects funds remaining in campaign bank account.
Public Funds Payment
| Candidate |
Public Funds Received (before 3/17/2016) |
Public Funds Payment (Authorized on 3/17/2016 |
|
Costa Constantinides |
$180,180 | $277* |
*Net of public funds payment minus penalties owed.
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