CFB Votes on Public Funds Payments and Enforcement Matters

05/16/2019

At today's public meeting, the New York City Campaign Finance Board (CFB) determined that five campaigns committed violations and assessed penalties for these violations. One campaign is from the 2013 election cycle, while the other four are from the 2017 election cycle. Refer to the tables below for details on these determinations.

The Board also approved a post-election public funds payment to one campaign from 2017; dismissed a complaint against a 2017 candidate in City Council District 43; voted to ratify public funds payments to candidates in the 2019 special election for City Council District 45; and recognized two 2017 campaigns that completed the audit process without violations or penalties assessed by the Board. Video from the meeting is available at nyccfb.info/live.

Completed Audit Process Without Violations or Penalties Assessed by Board

Starting with the 2017 election cycle, the Board is recognizing campaigns that completed the post-election audit process without any violations or penalties assessed by the Board. At today's meeting, the Board applauded the following candidates and their campaign staff for their diligence in running a campaign that maintained compliance with NYC's campaign finance law.

Candidate

Office / District Program Participant Public Funds Received
Thomas Shcherbenko Staten Island
Borough President		 Yes $85,849
Michael Scala City Council
District 32		 Yes $92,196

Violations and Penalties
(for details, follow the link in the Total Penalties column)

The Board determined that five campaigns committed campaign finance violations and assessed penalties for those violations. Four campaigns are from the 2017 election cycle, the other is from the 2013 election cycle.

Candidate
(Election Cycle)

 Office Violation Penalty Total Penalties

Zead Ramadan
(2013)

Treasurer:
Rasul Miller

Public Funds:
$50,731

 City Council
(District #07)		  1. Failing to report transactions $641 $7,897
 2. Failing to demonstrate compliance with reporting requirements for receipts and disbursements $2,500
 3. Filing late disclosure statements $100
 4. Failing to demonstrate compliance with subcontractor reporting and documentation requirements $200
 5. Accepting contributions from corporations, limited liability companies, or partnerships $500
 6. Accepting a contribution from an unregistered political committee $250
 7. Failing to document transactions $200
 8. Making cash expenditures greater than $100 $1,644
 9. Failing to demonstrate that spending was in furtherance of the campaign $1,862

Candidate
(Election Cycle)

 Office Violation Penalty Total Penalties

Scott Stringer
(2017)

Treasurer:
Barry Puritz

Public Funds:
$0
 		 Comptroller 1. Accepting over-the-limit contributions  $250 $625
2. Accepting a contribution from a limited liability company $125
 3. Accepting a contribution from an unregistered political committee $250

Candidate
(Election Cycle)

 Office Violation Penalty Total Penalties

Julius Tajiddin
(2017)

Treasurer:
Kimberly Austin

Public Funds:
Non-participant
 		 City Council
(District #09)		 1. Failing to demonstrate compliance with reporting requirements for receipts  $500 $3,500
2. Failing to file disclosure statements $2,500
3. Failing to respond to the Draft Audit Report $500

Candidate
(Election Cycle)

 Office Violation Penalty Total Penalties
Ritchie J. Torres
(2017)

Treasurer:
Romina Enea

Public Funds:
$0		 City Council
(District #15)		 1. Failing to disclose a political committee $100 $5,225
2. Accepting an over-the-limit contribution $125
3. Accepting contributions from corporations, limited liability companies, or partnerships $250
4. Accepting contributions from unregistered political committees $1,000
5. Failing to document a transaction $50
6. Submission of false or fictitious information $3,500
7. Failing to demonstrate compliance with intermediary reporting and documentation requirements $200

Candidate
(Election Cycle)

 Office Violation Penalty Total Penalties
James Van Bramer
(2017)

Treasurer:
Karina De La Cruz

Public Funds:
Non-participant		 City Council
(District #26)		 1. Failing to report transactions $154 $7,682
2. Failing to demonstrate compliance with cash receipts reporting and documentation requirements $165
3. Accepting over-the-limit contributions $4,263
4. Accepting a contribution from a limited liability company $350
5. Accepting contributions from unregistered political committees $2,750

Post-Election Pubic Funds Payment

Candidate
(Election Cycle)

 Office Public Funds Payment

Michael Scala
(2017)

Public Funds:
$89,154

 City Council
(District #32)		 $3,042


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