New Haven Democracy Fund
Overview
The New Haven Democracy Fund, utilizing appropriations from the Board of Aldermen and citizens’ contributions, provides public matching funds and public financing grants to Mayoral candidates who voluntarily agree to abide by certain restrictions and limitations on how campaign funds are raised and spent.
The Democracy Fund is a pilot program approved in 2007 by the State Elections Enforcement Commission of the State of Connecticut. The State General Assembly had authorized the Commission to approve up to three pilot programs for public financing of municipal election. The City of New Haven is the first and only municipality in the State to establish a public financing system for municipal elections.
The purpose of the Democracy Fund is to ensure that all citizens of the City of New Haven have a fair and meaningful opportunity to participate in the election of their Mayor. Specifically, the ordinance aims to counter the perception that New Haven’s public policy is influenced by campaign contributions; to ensure that meritorious Mayoral candidates are able to raise and spend sufficient funds through public financing of elections to convey their messages to the voters; to reduce the need for ongoing fundraising and to encourage Mayoral candidacies to spend more time communicating with citizens; and to give all citizens an opportunity for a reasonable supporting role in the selection of Mayor by making even small contributions meaningful.
The Democracy Fund is overseen by a seven-member volunteer board. A Democracy Fund Administrator is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Democracy Fund. A Democracy Fund Investigator is responsible for investigating alleged violations of the Democracy Fund ordinance and complaints made against participating candidates.
A Mayoral candidate becomes a participating candidate by agreeing to abide by the contribution and expenditure limitations and ceilings established by the Democracy Fund ordinance. Contributions are limited to no more than $340.00 from individuals or a town committee. A participating candidate must not accept contributions from political committees or business entities. Qualified campaign expenditures are limited to no more than $338,000.00 in a primary election and $338,000.00 in a general election.
The Democracy Fund provides public matching funds up to $125,000.00 and a public financing grant of $17,000.00 for both the primary elections and the general election. A candidate’s contribution of his or her own personal funds is limited to no more than $17,000.00 per primary or general election.
In order to qualify for public matching funds for a primary election or a general election, a participating candidate must raise two hundred (200) contributions, from separate individuals who are electors (that is, registered voters) of the City of New Haven, of no less than $10.00 and no more than $340.00. Matching funds consist of $50.00 per distinct individual contributor of $25.00 or more; contributions under $25.00 are matched two-to-one.
The Democracy Fund Board has the authority to levy fines for violation of the Democracy Fund Ordinance by participating candidates.
Summary of Fund
I. Eligibility for Matching Funds and $17,000 Public Financing Grant
- Establish campaign committee, meet requirements to appear on ballot, and run in a contested election
- At any time before the 60th day before an election, the Mayoral candidate must submit a signed Candidate Contract and Affidavit to the Democracy Fund Board:
- Agreement to campaign contribution and expenditure limitations.
- Raise the threshold of qualifying contributions: contributions of between $10 and $340 from 200 distinct New Haven registered voters
- Not be in default to the city of New Haven
- Agree to participate in at least one public forum per election
- Limit use of personal funds to no more than $17,000
III. Expenditure and Contribution Ceilings and Restrictions for Primary or General Election
Expenditure
Limit |
Contributions |
Public
Matching |
$338,000 |
- Up to$340 from individual or party committee
- No PAC
- No “business entities”
|
$50 per New Haven registered voter who gives $25 or more. Contributions less than $25 are matched two-to-one. Matching funds per candidate per election: $125,000.
|
If a candidate not participating in matching funds program spends more than the expenditure ceiling of $338,000, then participating candidates who have reached 85% of the expenditure ceiling can either (1) have an additional $25,000 grant, or (2) have their expenditure ceiling lifted. A candidate who chooses to have his or her expenditure limit lifted may raise contributions in excess of $340 from individuals and party committees, but must continue not to accept contributions from political committees and business entities, and will receive no additional matching funds after spending $338,000.
NEW HAVEN DEMOCRACY FUND BOARD
| Name |
Party |
Address |
Term Expires |
| Anna Mariotti - Chair |
(D) |
75 Sea Street |
8/1/13 |
| Dennis Curtis - Vice-Chair |
(D) |
403 Saint Ronan Street |
8/1/12 |
| Jesse Phillips |
(D) |
146 Springside Avenue |
8/1/14 |
| Caleb Kleppner - Treasurer |
(G) |
175 Linden Street |
8/1/12 |
| Richard Abbatiello |
(U) |
178 Linden Street |
8/1/12 |
| Tiana Ocasio - Secretary |
(D) |
141 Kimberly Avenue |
8/1/14 |
The Democracy Fund currently has two vacancies and will have another two in August 2012. If you would like to strengthen democracy in New Haven, please contact us about appointment to the Democracy Fund Board.
Democracy Fund chair Anna Mariotti can be reached at 917-455-9225 or almariotti@hotmail.com if you have any questions or suggestions about the program.
2012 MEETING DATES
Regular meetings are scheduled to be held on the third Monday of each month, except where there is a holiday, at 5:30 pm in the Mayor’s Conference Room #2, City Hall, 2nd Floor, 165 Church Street, New Haven, CT. See below for the scheduled dates.
Minutes & Agendas From Previous Years
Interim Campaign Reports
The campaign reports filed by mayoral candidate committees participating in the New Haven Democracy Fund program are now available not only on paper at the clerk's office, but also online at the State Elections Enforcement Commission's electronic Campaign Report Information System (eCRIS) site. However, in each election the Democracy Fund program requires one more report than the state, which will be available only here. For the primary, the interim report covers the month of July; for the general election, the interim report covers the months of July and August.
Primary 2011 Interim Reports
Anthony Dawson
Jeffrey Kerekes
Robert Lee
Downloads
For further information, please contact the Democracy Fund Administrator, Robert Wechsler, at rwechsler@cityethics.org or 203-230-2548.
Forms should be filed with the Administrator via email, fax (203-286-1091), or mail at 16 Windsor Road, North Haven, CT 06473-3015.
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