New York City Campaign Finance Board (CFB) approved on May 15 “matching funds” payments to various 2023 city council candidates for election in the upcoming June primaries. New York City’s landmark small-dollar public matching funds program helps candidates rely on New York City residents, and not special interests, to fund their election campaigns.

 

The voluntary program “matches” small contributions from NYC residents paid to candidates, allowing candidates who participate in the program to receive up to $2,000 in public funds per eligible contributor.

 

CFB officials said the latest approved funds totaled $733,844 for 18 city council candidates citywide, marking the fourth opportunity for 2023 candidates to qualify for public funding by raising small contributions from NYC residents. To qualify for public matching funds, candidates must demonstrate support for their candidacy by raising small contributions from within their communities. This encourages candidates to spend more time speaking to voters and less time fundraising.

 

In terms of local Bronx candidates, District 12 Democratic City Councilman Kevin Riley had $43,344 in public funds paid to him on May 15. This is also the total amount of public funds paid to him to date for the 2023 election cycle. The total dollar amount raised from individual, organizational, and all other contribution sources in respect of the candidate as of March 15 was $37,330.

 

The maximum public funds payment for each election is $184,000 and five percent of all payments are reserved until the last payment. The percent of contributions reported from individual residents in the candidate’s council district, as of March 15, excluding organizational and other contribution sources was 51.1 percent.

 

The percent of aggregate contributions from individuals that totaled $175 or less, as of March 15, excluding organizational and other contribution sources for Riley was 81.2 percent. Aggregate contributions refer to the total dollar value of all contributions reported from any one donor.

The total amount of public funds paid to Riley to date for the 2023 election cycle is also $43,344. The total dollar amount raised from individual, organizational, and all other contribution sources in respect of the candidate as of March 15 was $37,330. The percent of contributions reported from individual residents in Riley’s council district, as of March 15, excluding organizational and other contribution sources was 51.1 percent.

 

Meanwhile, the percent of aggregate contributions from individuals that totaled $175 or less to Riley’s campaign, as of March 15, excluding organizational and other contribution sources was 81.2 percent.

 

District 12 covers the Bronx neighborhoods of Wakefield, Olinville, Edenwald, Eastchester, Williamsbridge, Baychester, and Co-op City. Former District 12 City Council Member Andy King last week received news that a court ruled that he cannot run for re-election, further to his expulsion from elected office in 2020 over allegations he harassed and discriminated against a female employee, took a kickback from another staffer, and failed to pay a fine for previous misconduct, as reported at the time.

 

District 13 Democratic candidate Bernadette Ferrara, a member of Bronx Community Board 11 and Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance, who last ran for city council in 2021 in District 15 in a race ultimately won by now incumbent, Oswald Feliz, had $152 in public funds paid to her on May 15. The total amount of public funds paid to her to date for the 2023 election cycle is $48,488. The total dollar amount raised from individual, organizational, and all other contribution sources in respect of Ferrara as of March 15 was $7,046.

 

The percent of contributions reported from individual residents in the candidate’s council district, as of March 15, excluding organizational and other contribution sources was 88.5 percent. Meanwhile, the percent of aggregate contributions from individuals that totaled $175 or less to Ferrara’s campaign, as of March 15, excluding organizational and other contribution sources was 96.1 percent.

 

District 13 Republican and Conservative Party candidate George Havranek had $0 of public funds paid to him on May 15. The total amount of public funds paid to him to date for the 2023 election cycle is $127,300. The total dollar amount raised from individual, organizational, and all other contribution sources in respect of Havranek as of March 15 was $28,244.

The percent of contributions reported from individual residents in the candidate’s council district, as of March 15, excluding organizational and other contribution sources was 87.2 percent. Meanwhile, the percent of aggregate contributions from individuals that totaled $175 or less to Havranek, as of March 15, excluding organizational and other contribution sources was 90.5 percent.

 

District 13 Republican and Conservative candidate Kristy Marmorato had $0 of public funds paid to her on May 15. The total amount of public funds paid to her to date for the 2023 election cycle is $80,712. The total dollar amount raised from individual, organizational, and all other contribution sources in respect of Marmorato as of March 15 was $26,140.

 

The percent of contributions reported from individual residents in the candidate’s council district, as of March 15, excluding organizational and other contribution sources was 64.1 percent. Meanwhile, the percent of aggregate contributions from individuals that totaled $175 or less, as of March 15, excluding organizational and other contribution sources was 87.3 percent.

 

District 13 Republican and Conservative candidate Hasime “Samantha” Zherka, who previously ran against Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in New York’s 14th congressional district in 2022, though she did not appear on the ballot, had $38,023 of public funds paid to her on May 15. This is also the total amount of public funds paid to Zherka to date for the 2023 election cycle.

 

The total dollar amount raised from individual, organizational, and all other contribution sources in respect of the candidate as of March 15 was $8,478. The percent of contributions reported from individual residents in the candidate’s council district, as of March 15, excluding organizational and other contribution sources was 76.5 percent.

 

Meanwhile, the percent of aggregate contributions from individuals that totaled $175 or less to Zherka, as of March 15, excluding organizational and other contribution sources was 98.6 percent.

 

District 13 covers the Bronx neighborhoods of Allerton, City Island, Country Club, Edgewater Park, Ferry Point, Locust Point, Morris Park, Pelham Bay, Pelham Gardens, Pelham Parkway, Schuylerville, Silver Beach, Spencer Estates, Throggs Neck, Van Nest, Waterbury LaSalle, Westchester Square, and Zerega, and is currently represented by Democratic Councilwoman Marjorie Velázquez.

 

District 14 Democratic candidate Rachel Bradshaw, Democratic female State committeewoman for A.D. 78, who is also a member of Friends of Devoe Park, had $45,866 of public funds paid to her on May 15. This is also the total amount of public funds paid to her to date for the 2023 election cycle. The total dollar amount raised from individual, organizational, and all other contribution sources in respect of Bradshaw as of March 15 was $9,080.

 

The percent of contributions reported from individual residents in the candidate’s council district, as of March 15, excluding organizational and other contribution sources was 72.6 percent. Meanwhile, the percent of aggregate contributions from individuals that totaled $175 or less to Bradshaw, as of March 15, excluding organizational and other contribution sources was 91.3 percent.

 

Bradshaw is being honored by Schneps Media at their upcoming Bronx Power Women 2023 event this month for her “excellence in business and the community.” Schneps is a large media group serving the entire City as well as parts of Westchester County and Long Island. The Bronx Times is one of the group’s publications. The event is one of many similar marketing events hosted by the media group where friends / sponsors of the honorees purchase tickets for a dinner during which the [in this case] Power Women are formerly honored. Tickets for the event range from $1,995 for an honoree package to $30,000 for a presenting sponsor. A table of ten can be bought for $2,200 or a table of 12 for $2,650.

 

In contrast, the nonprofit, Bridgefield Civic League, recently honored various women from Olinville and surrounding neighborhoods for their work in the community at a Womens’ History Month event. There was no requirement to purchase a ticket for the event at which food was also served.

 

On May 19, Bradshaw told Norwood News that a lawyer, Stanley Schlein, for incumbent Democratic District 14 City Councilwoman Pierina Sanchez, challenged Bradshaw’s paperwork in relation to the required minimum number of signatures needed to get on the ballot for the June primary. Bradshaw said, in part, “BOE validated I’m over 450 [signatures] and Schlein, at the hearing, had no objections.” Bradshaw added, “She [Sanchez] wanted to run unopposed. This is a democracy; voters have a right to choose, not be disenfranchised. That’s the point of petitioning.”

 

Norwood News reached out to Sanchez’s campaign for comment on Bradshaw’s remarks. Jake Halpin, campaign manager for Sanchez, replied, saying, “Part of the democratic process is gathering a base number of voter signatures to gain access to the ballot. When a candidate comes within a narrow margin of not meeting that minimal threshold, as Ms. Bradshaw did, it is standard practice to request a closer review to ensure that threshold was, in fact, met.”

 

Bradshaw later told Norwood News in response to the councilwoman’s remarks, “Since when is submitting almost 1,200 signatures just reaching threshold? Hundreds of the signatures were from FHOC (Fordham Hill Owners Corporation) shareholders and residents.”

 

Norwood News reached out to NYC Board of Elections to ask what the was the minimum number of signatures needed to get on the ballot. We were informed that it was 450. We asked if they could confirm Bradshaw’s statement regarding her submission of almost 1,200 signatures. Vincent Ignizio responded, saying in part, “They filed 1,058 signatures and wound up with 473 valid [needing 450 to qualify] so she’s on the ballot.”

 

Meanwhile, in terms of matching funds, the councilwoman had $128,379 of public funds paid to her on May 15. This is also the total amount of public funds paid to Sanchez to date for the 2023 election cycle. The total dollar amount raised from individual, organizational, and all other contribution sources in respect of the candidate as of March 15 was $32,426.

The percent of contributions reported from individual residents in the candidate’s council district, as of March 15, excluding organizational and other contribution sources was 29.2 percent. Meanwhile, the percent of aggregate contributions from individuals that totaled $175 or less to Sanchez, as of March 15, excluding organizational and other contribution sources was 88.6 percent.

 

District 14 covers the Bronx neighborhoods of Morris Heights, University Heights, Fordham, and Kingsbridge.

 

Havranek, Zherka, Marmorato and Bradshaw are each first time payees i.e. candidates who have never been paid public matching funds in previous election cycles and are being paid for the first time now.

 

For more recent election coverage, click here, here, here, here, and here.

 

Early voting commenced on Saturday, June 17, when 983 Bronxites had voted by close of polls.

 

 

Polls are open on Primary Election Day, Tuesday, June 27, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Click here to find your Election Day poll site. Return your absentee ballot by mail (postmark required) or drop it off at a poll site by Tuesday, June 27.