Four candidates have filed certification forms to join New York City’s voluntary Campaign Finance Program for the Special Election in Council District 30, the Campaign Finance Board announced today. In order to qualify to receive public matching funds for the June 3 election, candidates were required to file their forms by the April 25 certification deadline.
Certifications postmarked by the April 25 deadline may still be received by mail and will be accepted. The first campaign finance disclosure filings for all candidates in the special election are due Friday, May 2.
The following candidates have submitted certification forms as of today:
Anthony Como
Charles Ober
Thomas Ognibene
Joseph Suraci
Candidates who certify as participants in the city’s voluntary Campaign Finance Program must appear on the ballot, have an opponent on the ballot, and meet a two-part threshold before becoming eligible for public matching funds.
For the special election, to become eligible for public funds, first, a candidate must raise $5,000 from New York City residents, with only the first $87 of a contribution counting towards the total. Second, a candidate must collect 75 matchable contributions of $10 or more from residents within the Council district.
Once the campaign has met the threshold, and is in compliance with the rules of the Program, the first $87 of a contribution received from an individual New York City resident will be matched at a rate of $6-to-$1, for a maximum of $522 per contributor.
Candidates who participate in the Program are also subject to spending limits. The spending limit for this special election is $161,000. All candidates, whether they join the Program or run as a non-participant, must comply with contribution limits and disclosure requirements.
This special election will be the first conducted under new legislation signed into law in July 2007 that placed strict limits on contributions from individuals connected with entities that are doing business with city government. For more information on the “doing business” limits, please see the CFB website.
Public matching funds provided through the Campaign Finance Program amplify the impact of small contributions, while reducing the possibility and perception of corruption associated with large contributions and unlimited campaign spending.