Greenburgh, New York – Standing before local and state officials in Greenburgh Town Hall, New York State Assemblyman Thomas J. Abinanti (D-92nd District) today announced that he was introducing in the New York State Legislature the Fair Local Elections Act, a bill that would allow for local municipalities and counties to opt-in for campaign finance.

Based on the New York City campaign finance model, the Fair Local Elections Act, would fall under the umbrella of the proposed Assembly Bill A.4980 (Silver) "2013 Fair Elections Act" that would provide for optional partial public financing of certain election campaigns in the state and identifies the source of certain political contributions.

NYS Assemblyman Thomas J. Abinanti said, "This legislation will eliminate big money from campaigns and make local residents the sole concern of local candidates for offices. It will make it clear to local residents that their participation really matters."

Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins commented, “Our current campaign finance laws allow big money to drown out the voices of everyday people and this must change. The bill I sponsor with Assembly Speaker Silver creates tougher disclosure laws, smaller limits on contributions and enacts a public financing system for state elections. It will level the playing field for candidates and make them more accountable to the voters they serve, not wealthy donors. I am very proud that the Westchester Municipal Officials Association and other local leaders understand how important it is to reform this broken system on all levels of government. I look forward to working with them to finally make campaign finance reform a reality in our state and local governments.”

Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner stated, “Campaigns should not be about raising dollars but should be about issues. The proposed local election act will encourage more people to run for office if they are not wealthy or don't have wealthy friends. Greenburgh has a strong ethics law. Incumbent officials are prohibited from accepting campaign contributions from developers, contractors, consultants who work for the town, and attorneys who represent applicants. If this proposed law is adopted I will urge the Town Board to implement the law with the requirement that non-incumbents who run for office agree to also comply with our ethics laws and restrictions on accepting campaign donations.

Yonkers City Council President Chuck Lesnick commented, “The governor, the legislature and many civic groups are spending lots of time and energy on a bill to root out special interests and to maximize participation in competitive elections. We would like localities to avail themselves of the best practices developed by the state to do the same."

"While clean elections are essential in democracy, it is also an expense that must be balanced against other municipal needs" said Ossining Mayor Bill Hanauer, incoming president of the Westchester Municipal Officials Association. "The opt-in will allow municipalities to decide whether and when to participate," he added.

Cecile Singer, who 20 years ago led a bi-partisan commission on campaign finance reform under County Executive Andrew O'Rourke remarked, "Twenty years after the Singer Commission recommended county and municipal campaign finance reform it is heartening to see progress."

The Fair Local Elections Act, would utilize the new state campaign finance board that would be created under A. 4980, to administer the program to any municipality with fewer than two million people or less (because New York City already has public financing of elections) if the locality voted (either by the governing body or by permissive referendum) to opt-in.

The locality would have to raise the money for the public matching share but the state would absorb the administrative expense of the campaign finance board which is already being created to administer the state elections. If enacted, candidates in local and county elections would be entitled to six dollars in matching public funds for each dollar raised;

Eligibility Requirements

• Candidates for office in municipalities and counties with a population over 250,000 and up to 2,000,000 must collect not less than $200,000 from at least 2,000 matching contributions made up of sums of up to $250 per individual contributor who reside in New York State.
• Candidates for office in municipalities and counties with a population over 150,000 and up to 250,000 must collect not less than $20,000 from at least 200 matching contributions made up of sums of up to $250 per individual contributor who resides in New York State including at least $12,500 from at least 125 individual contributors who reside in the senate district in which the office is to be filled.
• Candidates for office in municipalities and counties with a population over 25,000 and up to 150,000 must collect not less than $10,000 from at least 100 matching contributions made up of sums of up to $250 per individual contributor who resides in New York State including at least $5,000 from at least 50 individual contributors who reside in the assembly district in which the office is to be filled.
• Candidates for office in municipalities and counties with a population of 25,000 or less must collect not less than $5,000 from at least 50 matching contributions made up of sums of up to $250 per individual contributor who reside in the assembly district in which the office is to be filled.

Funding Sources for Public Finance

• The bill provides an income tax check-off of $5. Such monies would be paid into a separate fund, known as the Local Campaign Finance Fund. The taxpayers' tax liability would not be affected by making this designation.
• If the local campaign finance fund lacks the money to pay all properly certified claims, the deficiency will be paid by the local municipal or county government where the participating candidate would serve if elected.

Participating candidates who are unopposed in a primary election may not receive public funds and those whose opponents don't raise or spend 10% of the public funds limit for the office that they are seeking are deemed unopposed. Candidates who are challenged in a primary and who do not seek public funds are not eligible for public funds for the general election and candidates who are unopposed in a general or special election may not receive public funds.

Advocates for campaign finance reform agree that when put into practice, campaign finance reform makes candidates and elected officials accountable only to the public interest and not special interests, levels the playing field for candidates to participate in fairer elections, frees up elected officials to concentrate more on their constituents by reducing the amount of fundraising time they have to do, and provides for everybody, regardless of status, an opportunity to take part in the democratic process.