Subject: Re: [LPNY DISCUSS] Voter Guide deadline Thursday Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2003 08:42:40 -0400 To: From: Bob Armstrong On Wed, 03 Sep 2003 02:37:20 -0500, Steven K Isler wrote: >=A0If you are interested in submitting a pro or con statement (200= word >=A0max) re the ballot proposal for non-partisan elections, or the= two >=A0other proposals, for publication in the NYC Voter Guide, the= deadline >=A0is Thursday, Sept 4 at 5 pm. > >=A0E-mail it to info@nyccfb.info or fax to (212) 306-7182. =A0More= information at http://www.nyccfb.info . My inclination is that it is a substantial improvement over the= current Democrat virtual monopoly . Perhaps Jak has a more "from the= trenches" perspective . Here's the text of the proposal ( from http://www.nyc.gov/html/charter/html/pr_082503.html ) : Ballot proposal on City Elections This proposal would amend the= City Charter to establish a new system of city elections for the= offices of Mayor, Public Advocate, Comptroller, Borough= President, and Council member. The September primary election= would be open to all voters and all candidates, regardless of= party membership or independent status. The top two vote getters= would compete in the November general election. In both= elections, candidates could indicate their party membership or= independent status on the ballot. Candidates participating in= the voluntary campaign finance program, which provides public= campaign funding, could not accept contributions from political= parties or party committees. The new system would replace the= current system of political party nominations through primary= elections in which only party members may vote. The changes= would take effect after the 2005 City-wide election. In the context of open elections, a majority of the members of= the Charter Commission set-forth a series of factors to amend= the City Charter in the area of campaign finance. The= Commission=92s Charter provision on campaign finance sets-forth a= series of standards for the Campaign Finance Board to use in= determining whether a candidate has been the beneficiary of or= has received in-direct contributions from a political party or a= political party=92s committee. The provision requires the Campaign= Finance Board to issue rules stating precisely how those factors= will be used in assigning attribution to a candidate. What follows is the legislative text adopted by a majority of the= Charter Commission to amend the City Charter in the area of= campaign finance: =A7 7. Subparagraph (b) of paragraph (11) of subdivision (a) of= section 1052 of the New York city charter, as added by vote of= the electors of the city of New York at a general election held= on November 3, 1998, is amended to read as follows: (b). The board shall promulgate such rules as it deems necessary= to attribute expenditures that indirectly assist or benefit a= candidate participating in the voluntary system of campaign= finance reform as in-kind contributions to such candidate. In= addition, and without limitation of the preceding sentence, the= board may require a participant to demonstrate, in a proceeding= before the board, that expenditures made by a party committee,= or a constituted committee of a party, are not in-kind= contributions to the participant. Factors for determining= whether contributions or expenditures by a party committee or= constituted committee of a party are coordinated, shall include,= but not be limited to: the party membership; party registration;= choice of registration status on the ballot; party affiliation;= party identification in the voter guide or campaign literature;= or party endorsements of a participant. When the board= determines that the participating candidate has not met his or= her burden of proof, and that an in-kind contribution or= expenditure has been made, the board shall attribute such= contributions or expenditures to the participating candidate= consistent with its rules governing party contributions and= expenditures. The board shall promulgate rules to administer and= enforce this provision. =A7 8. Paragraph (12) of subdivision (a) of section 1052 of the New= York city charter, as added by vote of the electors of the city= of New York at a general election held on November 3, 1988, is= amended to read as follows: 12. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the board shall= prohibit candidates participating in the voluntary system of= campaign finance reform from accepting, either directly [or],= indirectly or by transfer, a campaign contribution, loan,= guarantee or other security for such loan, from any corporation,= or political party or committee thereof. The board shall= promulgate such rules as it deems necessary to implement and= administer this provision. --=A0 =A0Bob Armstrong -- http://CoSy.com -- 212-285-1864 Liberty : http://cosy.com/Liberty.htm =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A02003/09/03 8:36:45 AM