Frederick Schaffer Reappointed as New York City Campaign Finance Board Chair

03/06/2024

Frederick Schaffer has been reappointed as Chair of the Campaign Finance Board (CFB) by New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Schaffer was originally appointed as CFB Chair by Mayor Bill de Blasio in March 2017 to complete the term of former Chair Rose Gil Hearn and was reappointed by Mayor de Blasio to a full term in December 2018. He will serve another five-year term that will end on November 30, 2028.

"Rick is an exemplary Chair and we are thrilled that he has been reappointed to a second full term," said Campaign Finance Board Executive Director Paul S. Ryan. "He is a true champion for our nationally renowned public campaign financing system and voter engagement program. New York City voters are fortunate that the CFB will be able to rely on his leadership for another five years."

Prior to joining the Campaign Finance Board, Schaffer served as General Counsel and Senior Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs at the City University of New York (CUNY). He retired from the position in 2016. Schaffer also served as counsel to the 2010 New York City Charter Revision Commission. Notably, that Commission expanded the CFB’s voter engagement mandate and crafted the City Charter's requirement for disclosure of independent expenditures in city elections, which are administered by the CFB. Those rules require transparency for special interests that want to influence elections and are widely considered to be among the strongest in the country. The Commission also expanded our mandate to conduct voter engagement, particularly in underrepresented communities in New York City.

Prior to joining CUNY, Schaffer served as Assistant US Attorney in the Southern District of New York and as Chief Litigating Assistant Corporation Counsel and as Counsel to Mayor Ed Koch. Additionally, he was a director of the Legal Aid Society for 10 years, serving as its chairman for two years. From 2011 to 2017, he served as a director on the board of Citizens Union, and since 2017 he has served as a director on the board of Citizens Union Foundation.

As mandated by the City Charter and the New York City Campaign Finance Act, the CFB is composed of five board members: two are appointed by the mayor, two by the speaker of the City Council, and the chair, by the mayor after consultation with the speaker. The Board is strictly nonpartisan, and the mayor’s and the speaker’s two appointees must not be affiliated with the same political party. Board members serve staggered, five year terms.

The New York City Campaign Finance Board (CFB) administers one of the strongest, most effective campaign finance systems in the country. NYC’s matching funds program amplifies the voice of average New Yorkers in city elections by matching their small contributions with public funds. By increasing the value of small-dollar contributions, the program reduces the possibility and perception of corruption from large contributions and unlimited campaign spending, and encourages citizens from all walks of life to run for office. Through its rigorous oversight and enforcement efforts, the CFB holds candidates accountable for using public funds responsibly.

The CFB publishes detailed public information about money raised and spent in city elections by candidates and independent spenders, bringing greater transparency to the democratic process. Its NYC Votes campaign engages and educates voters through community outreach, the Voter Guide, and Debate Program, empowering New Yorkers to make informed choices at the polls. In addition, the CFB seeks to improve the voter experience by advocating for legislative changes to the registration and voting process.