Local Residents, Leaders Call on State to Limit Influence of CEO Campaign Cash

Local Residents, Leaders Call on State to Limit Influence of CEO Campaign Cash

New Research Shows Donations to State Senator, Assemblyman Overwhelmingly from Out-of-District, Big Money Donors

Growing Grassroots Demand for Publicly-Financed Fair Elections System

Troy, NY – Today residents and leaders in Troy came together to call on Senator McDonald and Assemblymember Canestrari to fight for a system of publicly financed Fair Elections when they return to Albany on April 17th. Those gathered demanded that their elected state representatives make Fair Elections the top priority issue for the remainder of this year’s legislative session.

“Our system of elections in New York is broken because candidates need to constantly dial for dollars to run their campaigns, making those of us who can’t write huge checks second-class citizens,” said Ivette Alfonso, President of Citizen Action of New York. “With Fair Elections, candidates will be more accountable to us, not CEO campaign contributors, because they’ll be able to run competitive campaigns by raising small contributions from our community. Fair Elections will make sure that our representatives fight for our priorities.”

New research revealed at the press conference, provided by Common Cause/NY, illustrated the problem with the current campaign finance system. Both Senator McDonald and Assemblymember Canestrari received a significant majority of their campaign donations from outside of their district. They also both received almost all of their donations through contributions over $200.

“We need Fair Elections so that our elected officials are accountable to the people who put them in office, not the special interests which fund their campaigns. Our current system undermines the very essence of democracy and advantages big money donors over the needs of average voters. Public policy shouldn’t be set by the highest bidder,” said Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause/NY.

As the public continues to bear the brunt of pain after budget cuts to services, schools, and safety net programs, community leaders came together to demand that our elected leaders in the State Senate and Assembly ensure the priorities of the Capital Region are met by passing Fair Elections. A Fair Elections system would allow the priorities of constituents to matter more, because big campaign contributions would matter less. Fair Elections is proven to increase small donor participation in elections, boosting civic engagement and strengthening democracy.

Nina Nichols, Pastor of Christ Church United Methodist and President Pro-Tempore of the Troy City Council said, “The poverty, hunger and homelessness that exists in Troy isn’t unique to our community. And the lack of resources and investment isn’t either. Across New York State, CEO campaign contributors are making sure our elected officials are hearing their needs, at the expense of our needs. Because of our election system, their voices are louder and clearer than ours can possibly be. Fair Elections would help make our communities stronger because those who we elect would be accountable to us. We’d be sure they’re fighting for our priorities first, not the priorities of those who are able to write the biggest checks.”

“For our democracy to work the way it’s supposed to, all communities, including communities of color, need an equal voice. But our current election system shuts too many of us out,” said Rev. Willie Bacote of The Missing Link Street Ministry. “Our neighbors are suffering from violence and poverty, but the legislators who we elected, and who are supposed to serve us, focus all their time and energy fundraising. With Fair Elections, our priorities will be shared by our elected officials because candidates will be able to run for office without relying on CEO campaign contributors.”

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