July 09, 2004
Question for political buffs in NYC
I was thinking, Michael Benjamin raised over $500,000 to run against Chuck Schumer before the Republican party railroaded him and installed their own candidate, Howard Mills (for the record, I've got nothing against Mills, he's a sacrificial lamb just like Benjamin would've been). Can Benjamin now take this money and, say, run for City Council next year with the biggest budget of any other candidate? Will Benjamin now be a candidate to be reckoned with in another race? Or, what?
Posted by Karol at July 9, 2004 11:00 AM | TrackBackTechnorati Tags:
Yes. Technically, he is under no obligation to return monies donated to him for the purposes of politics, even if it was only an expoloratory run.
Posted by: stimulant at July 9, 2004 11:52 AMAbsolutely he can.
This same principle allowed John Kerry to raise money for his 2002 Senate campaign, in which he was basically unopposed, and then transfer it to his 2004 presidential campaign.
Posted by: Mike at July 9, 2004 11:56 AMgood thought. I was just explaining to someone last night the whole situation. I hope Banjamin sticks around for some race. Or maybe a primary with Mills?
Posted by: Slant Point at July 9, 2004 12:17 PMCan he still do a primary? Or, do you mean as a Third Party candidate? If he goes into a City Council race with half a mil, he'd have a really great shot.
Posted by: Karol at July 9, 2004 12:30 PMThe correct legal question is whether a former candidate for federal office (the U.S. Senate) take the money raised in that venture and convert it for use in a state electoral campaign. One needs to analyze the federal election laws and FEC precedents; there also may be some impediment in state law as well.
Posted by: Michael at July 9, 2004 12:39 PMMichael Benjamin tried to play the race card when he ran for Senate. He alleged that the Republican establishment did not support him because he was Hispanic without offering any evidence. I don't think he should be welcomed by Republicans for another run unless he offers some apologies first.
Posted by: Dan at July 9, 2004 03:49 PMDan, if he shows up on a City Council ballot with $500,000, I bet he will be very welcome.
Posted by: Karol at July 9, 2004 10:26 PMI believe that he would have had to transfer the money by a certain date.
Also, he only has $ 34,377 left as of his April financial report.
Posted by: jc at July 10, 2004 04:57 AMGet real Karol. MB will not be able to raise that much money two years in a row, especially after burning too many bridges and too much cash this time in a futile quest. It would be tough to get out of the race and then turn to people who already gave him money and ask for more next year in what many people would consider to be hopeless races anyway.
Posted by: Von Bek at July 10, 2004 10:42 AMIn a City Council race he would be able to have 4 to 1 matching funds from NYC residents. He could probably hit the 150,000 or so max.
Posted by: jc at July 10, 2004 01:30 PMFor the record, you don't have to participate in the public matching funds program to run for the city council. Most do, but it's not necessary. A Republican with $500,000 would certainly be able to compete -- he should move to Park Slope and give the ever-slimy DiBlasio a run for his money. (by the way, he thinks he's going to be the next speaker of the council)
Posted by: Sara at July 11, 2004 03:59 PMJC, what did he spend almost half a mil on?
Von Bek, my point was if he still had that much money. Obviously I don't expect him to be able to raise another half mil for a City Council race.
Posted by: Karol at July 11, 2004 04:45 PMBenjamin spent his money on assorted expenses.
Check
http://www.fec.gov/finance_reports.html
Posted by: JC at July 12, 2004 02:10 AM
