New York – November elections are a few months away, so pay up if you want your voice heard at the debates. That’s the message the New York City Campaign Finance Board is sending to citywide candidates says Alex Zablocki, Republican candidate for Public Advocate.

The NYC Campaign Finance Board (CFB) was created to help lesser known candidates run for office and assist those candidates with city matching funds. According to the Campaign Finance Board’s website:

The Campaign Finance Board is a nonpartisan, independent city agency that serves the public interest by enhancing the role of New York City residents in the electoral process. Through its administration of the Campaign Finance Program, created in 1988, the CFB educates voters about the candidates and enables more citizens to compete for city office. The Program amplifies the impact of New Yorkers’ small contributions by matching them with public funds, reducing the possibility and the perception of corruption associated with large contributions and unlimited campaign spending.

One day after the CFB released the 2009 debate schedule and criteria to be eligible to debate, Alex Zablocki called for a complete overhaul of the debate eligibility rules and to work with debate sponsors to open up citywide debates to all candidates.

The law regarding CFB debates is located in the Administrative Code, section 3-709.5. Part 5 of that section states that in order to qualify to participate in the first general election debate, a candidate must be on the ballot and raise a minimum of 20% of the threshold for that office ($25,000 for Public Advocate). The rules for the second general debate include being on the ballot, but the other requirements are set forth by the debate sponsor and the CFB.

This year, New York 1 is sponsoring the second general debate for Public Advocate and has required a minimum of $200,000 raised as well as ranking 10% or more in a poll conducted by Marist, Quinnipiac or NY 1 News.

According to Alex Zablocki, every candidate on the ballot should be able to participate in a city sponsored debate, regardless of how much money they raise or their popularity. Zablocki believes the real challenge is getting on the ballot and collecting over 7,500 petition signatures to qualify to be on the ballot.

“If these debates are supposed to be non-discriminatory, then why does the Campaign Finance Law discriminate against candidates that may not be able to raise extraordinary amounts of money? The real vetting process for a candidate is the task of getting on the ballot, especially for third party candidates, independents and republicans, whose registration numbers in New York City are shadowed by the Democratic Party.”, Alex Zablocki said. “The Campaign Finance Board should live up to its mission and the rules should be changed to allow all candidates on the ballot to debate. Debates should not be open to the highest bidder or the most popular candidate on the ballot. This is just another sign that the Campaign Finance Law needs serious reform.”, Alex Zablocki continued.

Alex Zablocki also believes that New York 1 News should no be sponsoring any debates for the Public Advocate’s office since Democratic candidate, Mark Green, was once affiliated with the news station and appeared daily on the channel as a “New York One Wise Guy”. Debate sponsors are chosen by the CFB in accordance with the rules set forth in Section 3-709.5 (4) of the Administrative Code.

“The law clearly states that an organization that is not affiliated with a candidate for public office shall be eligible to sponsor one or more of the required citywide debates. Though Mark Green is not affiliated with NY 1 at this time, he was for years. As a candidate for this office, I would like to debate all candidates in a fair setting and I think New York 1’s involvement in the second general debate for the office I am seeking does a disservice to all candidates. If Mark Green is the Democratic nominee, I would hope the Campaign Finance Board rethinks its decision to use New York 1 as a sponsor.”, Alex Zablocki said. “With that said, these debates should not have a price tag. These rules will ensure that a handful, if even that, get to debate and will be more of an interview with the well financed, popular candidate.”, Alex Zablocki continued.

“Pay to play politics has to stop in our city. This is a not a poker game with different buy-ins for different races. The Campaign Finance Board should immediately ask for the debate rules to be revised and revisit the criteria set for the second debate.”, Alex Zablocki said.

Last week, Alex Zablocki joined Joseph Mendola, Republican candidate for Comptroller in calling for more stronger campaign finance rules to prevent pay to play politics, include limiting union contributions and contributions to sitting elected officials that fund projects and organizations of contributors.

Alex Zablocki is the youngest candidate in New York City's history to run for Public Advocate. Alex has the unanimous support and endorsement of all five Republican County organizations. More information about Alex and his campaign can be found at www.alex2009.com or by calling 718-734-1093.

Alex Zablocki’s letter to Sue Ellen Dodella, Legal Counsel to the NYC Campaign Finance Board, is posted below. The debate schedule and criteria can be found at www.nyccfb.info/debates.

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June 18, 2009

Sue Ellen Dodella
General Counsel
New York City Campaign Finance Board
40 Rector Street, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10006

Re: General Election Debate Criteria

Dear Ms. Dodella,

My name is Alex Zablocki, a participant in the Campaign Finance Board program (ID# 1243) and candidate for Public Advocate.

Today, the Campaign Finance Board (CFB) released the debate schedule and criteria for 2009 primary and general election debates. I am writing to you today regarding two topics: debate criteria and debate sponsor.

As you know, the rules for debates are set forth in the Administrative Code, section 3-709.5. For the first general debate, though I disagree with the law [3-705.(5)] that requires 20% of threshold to be raised in order to be eligible to debate, I don’t disagree with CFB complying with the law. I firmly believe that debates should be open to all candidates on the ballot. The true vetting process for a candidate is actually getting on the ballot by securing over 7,500 petition signatures from registered voters. With that said, I want to focus on the criteria set for the second general debate for the office I am seeking.

Administrative Code 3-705.5(5) allows great flexibility for both the Campaign Finance Board and a debate sponsor when it comes to criteria for being allowed to debate. I believe the requirement by the CFB and the sponsor (NY 1 News) for a candidate to raise and spend $200,000 is excessive. Fundraising for any candidate is difficult, especially during hard economic times and this amount is arbitrary. There should be no fundraising requirement set to debate; the people of New York City want to hear from all candidates in order to make an informed decision on this race and all races. Furthermore, the requirement to achieve at least 10% in a poll is outrageous and completely goes against the “non-discriminatory” rules that the CFB is supposed to follow. Again, support should be based on getting on the ballot, not a popularity contest.

Secondly, the Administrative Code 3-705.5(4) sets forth the eligibility requirements for debate sponsors. As you may be aware, Mark Green, a democratic candidate in this race, was once affiliated with New York 1 News as a nightly commentator (“New York One Wise Guys”). His past affiliation with this network, on a political talk show, should disqualify New York 1 News from sponsoring the second general debate for Public Advocate, if Mark Green is the democratic nominee. Having New York 1 News sponsor this debate would appear biased and I believe give Mr. Green an unfair advantage at the debate because of his well-known appearances on the news station. I do realize Mr. Green is not affiliated with the station at this time, but it would be improper of the CFB to even show the slightest bit of favoritism for a network a candidate aired on frequently as a paid commentator.

On behalf of all New Yorker’s that want these debates to be open to all candidates in a fair and equal manner, I ask that your department review the rules of the CFB in relation to the flexibility the CFB and debate sponsor has with regards to the second general debate. I also ask that you review the rules for debate sponsors and the possible affiliation of the second debate sponsor for Public Advocate, New York 1 News, with democratic candidate Mark Green and inform me of your findings. Debates should be up for sale; the people especially my supporters, demand equal treatment by the CFB, that well financed candidates will get.

Thank you for your time and attention to this very important manner.


Sincerely,



Alex Zablocki
Candidate
NYC Public Advocate