Campaign Finance Law More Than Pizza Money
To The Editor:
It’s understandable that Dean Pagani would have a bias against the Citizens’ Election Program, a campaign finance system that levels the political playing field. His former boss, ex-Gov. John Rowland, was adept at raising millions from a myriad of special interests, some of which led to Rowland’s political downfall and eventual imprisonment. Nonetheless, as a columnist for a respected publication, he is still required to get his facts straight.
To start, Pagani is incorrect that the first publicly financed election in Shelton saw election grant money spent on “helium, doughnut and pizza reimbursements.” If he were to take a closer look at the reports, he would find that 63 percent of both candidates’ expenses were for advertising — mostly direct mail. In fact, only $1,814.15 (4 percent) of expenses for both campaigns was related to food and only $558.51 (1 percent) was devoted to balloons. One candidate chose not to spend the entire election grant and returned $6,000 to the state.
Second, Pagani is misleading when he says Citizens’ Elections candidates will be funded entirely by public money. To qualify for election grants, candidates need to raise a threshold of money ($5,000 for state representative, $15,000 for state senator) from contributions between $5 and $100. It takes a competent and organized campaign to meet that requirement, and the money raised can be used for campaign expenses.
Lastly, the Connecticut General Assembly’s Regulations Committee in December approved strict rules on how Citizens’ Elections candidates can spend election grant money and the need for all receipts and records related to campaign expenditures. If anyone — candidate or campaign worker — tries to pocket campaign money, the full weight of the law — including possible prison time — will fall on them.
Granted, the Citizens’ Election Program is new and many are uncomfortable with change. However, similar programs have been successful in Arizona and Maine, and promise to perform well in Connecticut. Pagani should have called the Citizens’ Elections Program to raise his questions and concerns prior to printing misleading information.
Andy Sauer
Sauer is executive director of Connecticut Common Cause, a nonprofit, nonpartisan citizens lobby that advocates for campaign finance reform, democracy and ethics in government.
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