Meeting Recap: CFB Votes on Enforcement Matters for 2017 Campaigns, Ratifies Public Funds Payments

04/01/2021

The NYC Campaign Finance Board held a public meeting this morning to vote on enforcement matters for two campaigns from the 2017 elections and ratify previous public matching funds payments. A video recording of the meeting is available on the CFB's Youtube channel.

The Board determined that two campaigns from the 2017 election cycle committed violations and assessed penalties for those violations. It was also determined that one campaign will receive a post-election public funds payment. Refer to the tables below for more details.

Ratifying Public Funds Payments
The Board voted to ratify public funds payments approved and issued on March 18, 2021, to candidates in special elections for City Council District 15 and District 11.

Violations and Penalties
(for details, follow the link in the total penalties column)
Candidate
(Election Cycle)		 Office Violation Penalty Total Penalties
Cordell Cleare
(2017)

Treasurer:
Rahima Lee

Public Funds Received: $60,906		 City Council
(District 9)		 1. Filing a late disclosure statement $250 $1,750
2. Failing to report/ late reporting of transactions in daily pre-election disclosure statements $300
3. Filing a late response to the Initial Documentation Request and the Draft Audit Report $1,200
Candidate
(Election Cycle)		 Office Violation Penalty Total Penalties
Mawuli Hormeku
(2017)

Treasurer:
Laura Coefield

Public Funds Received: $0		 City Council
(District 42)		 1. Failing to provide bank statements $124 $38,808*
2. Failing to demonstrate compliance with cash receipts reporting and documentation requirements $554
3. Failing to file disclosure statements $467
4. Accepting a contribution from an unregistered political committee $3,111
5. Making cash expenditures greater than $100 $623
6. Failing to demonstrate that spending was in furtherance of the campaign $622
7. Converting campaign funds to a personal use $12,807
8. Failing to document transactions Violation; No Penalty
9. Failing to respond to the Draft Audit Report $500
10. Material misrepresentation and submission of false or fictitious information $20,000
*The Board determined that the Mawuli Hormeku (2017) campaign breached the obligations affirmed and accepted by the campaign in joining the Program and is not eligible for public matching funds.
Public Funds Payment
Candidate
(Election Cycle)		 Office Public Funds Payment

Cordell Cleare
(2017)

Treasurer:
Rahima Lee

Public Funds Received:
$60,906		 City Council
(District 9)		 $1883.64
*The public funds payment will be reduced by the amount of any penalties assessed by the Board.