New York board appeals ruling on Blakeman financing

(The Center Square) – Restoration of access to public campaign funds for Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman is drawing criticism from the panel’s GOP members.

The New York Public Campaign Finance Board, with a majority Democrats, has filed an appeal to a Supreme Court justice’s ruling blocking a decision by the board. The panel blocked the Nassau County executive from participating in the program, which matches the first $250 of contributions to their campaigns by a 6-to-1 margin with public funds.

The five-member board, which includes two Republicans, voted in March along party lines to turn down Blakeman’s request for public funds after ruling his application was “deficient” because he didn’t list his running mate, Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood, and file required paperwork to request funding. Blakeman reported $1.6 million, and asked the board to approve matching funds for $1.4 million.

Under the state’s public financing program, candidates for governor must raise at least $500,000 from 5,000 New York-ba...