Under a local law passed in December 1996, the Campaign Finance Board holds a series of public debates for Campaign Finance Program participants running for the citywide offices of Mayor, Public Advocate, and Comptroller. This law was passed in part in response to public frustration at the failure of candidates to debate “face to face” in previous elections. The program is administered by the CFB, and the individual debates are conducted by various media and civic organizations.

Under this law, candidates for citywide office who are participants in the Campaign Finance Program and were on the ballot for the September 25 primary election were required to take part in at least two debates before the primary election. For the November 6 general election, Program participants on the ballot for one of these three offices are required to participate in at least one mandatory debate. A second general election debate will include only “leading contenders” for each office, which means that a candidate who is not participating in the Campaign Finance Program but who is objectively determined to be a “leading contender” will be permitted to take part in this second debate. An alternative voter education program will be provided for Program participants who are not “leading contenders.”

The CFB received applications from a variety of organizations interested in conducting one or more of the debates. Applicants had to meet the following requirements: they must not be affiliated with any political party, candidate, or public official, and they must not endorse any candidates for the pending primary or general election before the debates for that election are held. The CFB reviewed the applications and chose the organizations best able both to reach a wide audience and to run a fair and impartial debate. In the debate schedule, the date, time, and broadcast information for the general election debates are listed.