CFB Votes on Enforcement Matters for Two Campaigns
March 9, 2017
At today's regularly scheduled meeting, the New York City Campaign Finance Board (CFB) determined that violations were committed by one campaign from the 2013 citywide election cycle and one campaign from the 2016A special election. The Board assessed penalties for those violations, and determined that another campaign from the 2013 city election would be required to repay public funds. Refer to the charts below for details on these determinations.
Additionally, the Board voted to ratify February 1 and February 9 special election public funds payments, and to ratify a denial of candidate Athena Moore's (2017A) 5-02(a) petition. The Board also voted to re-adopt the Ethical Guidelines.
Today's meeting was the first public meeting with our new Board Chair Frederick Schaffer. During the meeting, Chairman Schaffer delivered the following remarks:
"New York City’s public campaign financing system is a model for states and cities around the country; especially for those that want to reduce the influence of big money in politics. I was proud to serve on the 2010 Charter Revision Commission that led to the Charter mandate for disclosure of independent expenditures in city elections, which the CFB administers and that significantly strengthened the City’s program. My hope for my term as Chair of the Board is to make the City’s program even stronger, so that more New Yorkers can get involved in elections as voters, contributors and even candidates."
Public Funds Repayments
Additionally, the Board voted to ratify February 1 and February 9 special election public funds payments, and to ratify a denial of candidate Athena Moore's (2017A) 5-02(a) petition. The Board also voted to re-adopt the Ethical Guidelines.
Today's meeting was the first public meeting with our new Board Chair Frederick Schaffer. During the meeting, Chairman Schaffer delivered the following remarks:
"New York City’s public campaign financing system is a model for states and cities around the country; especially for those that want to reduce the influence of big money in politics. I was proud to serve on the 2010 Charter Revision Commission that led to the Charter mandate for disclosure of independent expenditures in city elections, which the CFB administers and that significantly strengthened the City’s program. My hope for my term as Chair of the Board is to make the City’s program even stronger, so that more New Yorkers can get involved in elections as voters, contributors and even candidates."
Violations and Penalties
(for details, follow the link in the Total Penalties column)
| Candidate (Election Cycle) |
Office | Violation | Penalty | Total Penalties |
Carlton Curry (2016A) Program Participant: $0 |
City Council (District #17) |
Material misrepresentation or fraud | $10,000 | $10,000 |
| Candidate (Election Cycle) |
Office | Violation | Penalty | Total Penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ricardo Brown (2013) Program Participant: $0 |
City Council (District #31) |
Failing to report bank and merchant accounts used for campaign purposes | $500 | $71,036 |
| Failing to provide bank/merchant account statements | $500 | |||
| Failing to report transactions | $201 | |||
| Failing to demonstrate compliance with cash receipts reporting and documentation requirements | $887 | |||
| Failing to demonstrate compliance with reporting requirements for receipts and disbursements | $3,000 | |||
| Filing late disclosure statements | $1,300 | |||
| Failing to demonstrate compliance with subcontractor reporting and documentation requirements | $50 | |||
| Accepting over-the-limit contributions | $8,450 | |||
| Accepting contributions from corporations, limited liability companies, or partnerships | $1,451 | |||
| Failing to document transactions | $700 | |||
| Failing to report and document basic campaign functions/activities | $500 | |||
| Failing to demonstrate compliance with intermediary reporting and documentation requirements | No Penalty | |||
| Failing to respond to the Draft Audit Report | $500 | |||
| Failing to demonstrate that spending was in furtherance of the campaign | $1,661 | |||
| Converting campaign funds to a personal use | $19,991 | |||
| Commingling campaign funds with personal or business funds | $4,815 | |||
| Submitting false contribution reporting and documentation | $6,530 | |||
| Material misrepresentation | $20,000 |
Public Funds Repayments
| Candidate (Election Cycle) |
Public Funds Received | Public Funds Repayment |
| Julio Pabon (2013) City Council (District #17) |
$54,214 | $2,796 |
Archived video of today’s meeting and hearing is available at www.nyccfb.info/live.
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