NYC Campaign Finance Board Votes on Enforcement Matters for Five Campaigns
02/13/2020
At today's public meeting, the NYC Campaign Finance Board (CFB) determined that five campaigns from the 2017 election cycle committed violations and assessed penalties for those violations. The Board also determined that one campaign must repay public funds and dismissed a complaint against another. Refer to the tables below for details on these determinations. A video record of the meeting is available at nyccfb.info/live.
In addition to these deliberations, the Board voted to ratify public funds payments to candidates in the 2020 special election for Queens Borough President. The Board dismissed candidate Elizabeth Crowley's petition challenging the Board’s January 30 payment determination pursuant to Rule 7-09, but noted that the campaign would have the opportunity to receive additional public funds for the 2020A election. The Board also voted to issue for public comment proposed amendments to the Board’s rules.
| Candidate (Election Cycle) |
Office | Violation | Penalty | Total Penalties |
| Michel Faulkner (2017) Public Funds Received: $0 |
Comptroller | 1. Failing to provide merchant account statements | No Penalty | $8,146 |
| 2. Failing to demonstrate compliance with cash receipts reporting and documentation requirements | $146 | |||
| 3. Accepting over-the-limit contributions | $5,000 | |||
| 4. Accepting a contribution from an unregistered political committee | $3,000 |
| Candidate (Election Cycle) |
Office | Violation | Penalty | Total Penalties |
| Letitia James (2017) Public Funds Received: $756,486 |
Public Advocate | 1. Failing to document transactions | $100 | $700 |
| 2. Failing to demonstrate compliance with intermediary reporting and documentation requirements | $600 |
| Candidate (Election Cycle) |
Office | Violation | Penalty | Total Penalties |
| Melinda Katz (2017) Public Funds Received: $567,464 |
Queens Borough President | 1. Failing to document transactions | $614 | $942 |
| 2. Failing to demonstrate compliance with intermediary reporting and documentation requirements | $200 | |||
| 3. Failing to demonstrate that spending was in furtherance of the campaign | $128 | |||
| 4. Making impermissible post-election expenditures | No Penalty |
| Candidate (Election Cycle) |
Office | Violation | Penalty | Total Penalties |
| Hiram Monserrate Public Funds Received: $100,100 |
City Council (District #21) |
1. Failing to demonstrate compliance with cash receipts reporting and documentation requirements | $818 | $26,473 |
| 2. Failing to report transactions in daily pre-election disclosure statements | $250 | |||
| 3. Failing to report and document basic campaign functions/ activities | $500 | |||
| 4. Failing to document transactions | $200 | |||
| 5. Failing to demonstrate that spending was in furtherance of the campaign | $407 | |||
| 6. Exceeding the expenditure limit | $24,248 | |||
| 7. Filing a late response to the initial documentation request | $50 |
| Candidate (Election Cycle) |
Office | Violation | Penalty | Total Penalties |
| Jorge Vasquez Public Funds Received: $86,160 |
City Council (District #02) |
1. Failing to file a disclosure statement | $750 | $1,250 |
| 2. Failing to report transactions in daily pre-election disclosure statements | $250 | |||
| 3. Accepting contribution from corporations, limited liability companies, or partnerships | $250 | |||
| 4. Failing to demonstrate that spending was in furtherance of the campaign | No Penalty | |||
| 5. Making impermissible post election expenditures | No Penalty |
Public Funds Repayment
| Candidate (Election Cycle) |
Office | Public Funds Repayment |
Melinda Katz (2017) Public Funds Received: $567,464 |
Queens Borough President | $135,823.57* |