Six Candidates Sign On For Public Campaign Financing

Six previously unenrolled candidates for statewide office in the upcoming election have agreed to abide by statutory spending limits in the state's public financing program.

The candidates were required to file declarations with the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance by 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Timothy Cahill and Jill Stein, candidates for governor, Paul Loscocco and Richard Purcell, candidates for lieutenant governor, James Henderson, candidate for secretary of state and Nathanael Fortune, candidate for auditor, all agreed to limit spending.

The limits, which vary depending on the office sought, qualify the candidates for public financing.

In the race for governor, Cahill and Stein have agreed to limit expenditures to $1.5 million, which qualifies them for up to $750,000 in matching funds.

Neither Gov. Deval Patrick nor his Republican challenger Charles Baker, have agreed to spending limits. Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray and Republican challenger Richard Tisei also turned down the public financing arrangement.