(The Center Square) – Restoration of access to public campaign funds for Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman is drawing criticism from the panel’s GOP members.
The New York Public Campaign Finance Board, with a majority Democrats, has filed an appeal to a Supreme Court justice’s ruling blocking a decision by the board. The panel blocked the Nassau County executive from participating in the program, which matches the first $250 of contributions to their campaigns by a 6-to-1 margin with public funds.
The five-member board, which includes two Republicans, voted in March along party lines to turn down Blakeman’s request for public funds after ruling his application was “deficient” because he didn’t list his running mate, Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood, and file required paperwork to request funding. Blakeman reported $1.6 million, and asked the board to approve matching funds for $1.4 million.
Under the state’s public financing program, candidates for governor must raise at least $500,000 from 5,000 New York-based donors who give $1,050 or less. The maximum payout for a candidate is $3.5 million for both the primary and general elections.
Blakeman’s campaign filed a lawsuit asking a Supreme Court judge to overturn the board’s decision and restore public funding. His lawyers said the board exceeded its authority when it voted along party lines to kick him out of the program.
Last week, a Supreme Court justice overturned the decision. But the board’s Democratic majority appealed the ruling.
In response, the board’s GOP minority accused the Democrats of “political bias” and “hypocrisy” after filing the appeal despite Chairwoman Barbara Lifton’s “promise” to respect the outcome of the legal challenge.
“The appeal shows clear political bias and a lack of respect for the judicial system,” the statement said. “It now appears that the Democratic commissioners are withholding that respect and will not be satisfied until they find a court sympathetic to their initial flawed position.”
Blakeman also criticized the appeal, accusing Democrats of conspiring with Gov. Kathy Hochul’s reelection campaign to deprive him of access to public financing he needs to remain competitive in the race.
“Kathy Hochul’s hacks got caught trying to rig the system – now they’re picking your pocket to pay for the appeal,” Blakeman said in a statement.
