Norwood News

On Jan. 15, with nine months to go until the 2009 citywide elections, candidates for office were required to file campaign finance reports.

Based on the reported figures, some local races are beginning to take shape, while others remain unsettled. 

Another disclosure report is required by June 15. The primaries are on Sept. 15.

Through an optional program operated by the New York City Campaign Finance Board, candidates can receive public funding in return for adhering to voluntary spending limits and restrictions during the election cycle. Candidates who want to participate must get at least 75 contributors and raise at least $5,000. If candidates qualify for the program by the end of the next reporting period in June, funds will be dispersed at a rate of 6 to 1 for the first $175 contributed by each individual donor.

In the 11th City Council District, Anthony Cassino, Ari Hoffnung and incumbent Oliver Koppell filed the required statements with the CFB. Hoffnung reports contributions of $80,000, while Cassino, who officially remains undeclared, raised $90,000. Technical problems within Koppell’s filings delayed the availability of his financial information, but a spokesman for the board, Eric Friedman, does not consider the action “willful disregard” on the part of the campaign. 

In the 14th Council District, represented by Maria Baez, at least five candidates, not including the incumbent have made their financial information available. Only two candidates, Fernando Cabrera and Yudelka Tapia, meet the thresholds established by the board to receive public funding. Though she’s indicated her intention to run and reportedly held a fund-raiser this past fall, Baez’s office did not report any financial activity during the last two filing periods. 

The 15th District’s lone filer, Jose Padilla, raised $480. Incumbent Joel Rivera reported no financial activity in the Council race, but reported raising $207,000 for a potential race for borough president. Those funds were frozen in the fall, when Rivera suspended his campaign to see whether the incumbent, Adolfo Carrion, who may take a job in the Obama administration, would run again. With Carrion’s future in doubt, so is Rivera’s.
    —Peter Mullin