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New York City’s Campaign Finance Program (the “Program”),
established in
1988, helps people run for the offices of mayor, public
advocate,
comptroller, borough president, and City Council member
without relying on
large campaign contributions by giving them the
opportunity to qualify for
matching funds to help them run competitive campaigns. The
voluntary Program
is administered by the New York City Campaign Finance
Board, the
independent, nonpartisan City agency that produced this
Voter Guide.
When candidates join the Program, they agree to abide by
campaign
contribution and spending limits and other requirements,
including audits of
their campaigns. Candidates who join the Program cannot
accept contributions
from corporations. In return, these candidates can qualify
to receive public
funds that match contributions received from NYC residents
at a rate of $4
to every $1 for contributions of up to $250. The Program’s
contribution
limits prevent participants from running campaigns with
large amounts of
money from just a few wealthy people or groups. The
Program’s spending
limits help ensure that candidates who are wealthy, or who
have the support
of wealthy people or groups, do not have an unfair
advantage.
Program participants file detailed information with the
Board about their contributors and how campaign money is spent. The Board
computerizes this information, so it is easy for the public and the press to
find out the details of candidates’ campaign finances. This information
is available on the CFB’s
searchable
database, and on
a public computer terminal at the CFB’s offices. Program participants are
audited by the CFB to make sure that they are observing the contribution and
spending limits and other Program requirements.
When you read this Voter Guide, you will be able to find
out which candidates have joined the Campaign Finance Program for
the 2003 elections by looking at the bottom of their candidate statements for
the phrase “Participating in the NYC Campaign Finance Program.”
You may also view
a list of candidates participating in the Program for the
2003 Elections.
If you are interested in running for City office, or in
learning more about how the Campaign Finance Program is helping to make local
elections in New York more open and democratic, please contact the CFB at
info@nyccfb.info or write to:
The New York City Campaign Finance Board
40 Rector Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10006
Questions specifically about this Voter Guide can be
e-mailed to
VoterGuideInfo@nyccfb.info.
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