BOE scrambles to design single-candidate financing
Jessica Alaimo
ALBANYThe New York State Board of Elections asked the New York City Campaign Finance Board to administer the pilot program for public financing of the comptrollers racebut city board is statutorily prohibited taking it over, officials from the respective boards said.
The public financing program for the 2014 comptrollers race was enacted in this years state budget as a means of testing the viability of a statewide system. Good government groups balked at the end result, saying it was rushed and designed to fail.
Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, a Democrat, opted not to participate, citing concerns about the last-minute nature of the program, but Republican challenger Bob Antonacci has said he will participate in the program.
Members of the state Board of Elections said at a recent meeting said they were doing their best to administer the program but lack both expertise and resources to implement such a system.
http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2014/05/8545753/boe-scrambles-design-single-candidate-financing