Boughton, Herbst Awarded Major Public Financing Grants For Governor Run

The State Elections Enforcement Commission on Wednesday approved $1.3 million public grants to Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, the Republican endorsed candidate for governor and his closest rival at the convention, former Trumbull First Selectman Tim Herbst, for the August 14 primary. This will provide the two leading candidates a mighty spend-down in the final seven weeks of the campaign.

The other Republican who qualified for the ballot at the convention Steve Obsitnik has not yet been approved for the loot under the state’s Citizens Election Program of publicly funded races. Two other GOP candidates for governor who made the primary ballot via a petitioning process, David Stemerman and Bob Stefanowski, have opted out of the program that allows grants for gubernatorial candidates that meet the threshold for raising $250,000 in donations of $100 and less. Guidelines follow:

The CEP is a voluntary program which allows qualifying candidates for General Assembly and statewide offices to receive full public financing. To qualify for public campaign financing, candidates must demonstrate they have substantial support from the public. Candidates for state representative accomplish this by raising $5,100 from at least 150 individuals residing in municipalities in their district. Candidates for state senate accomplish this by raising $15,300 from at least 300 individuals residing in municipalities in their district. In 2018, general election grant amounts are $28,150 for state representative candidates and $95,710 for state senate candidates.

Candidates for Governor must raise $250,000 in small dollar contributions of which $225,000 must come from in-state contributors. Candidates for Lieutenant Governor must raise $75,000 in small dollar contributions of which $67,500 must come from in-state contributors. Other candidates for statewide offices must raise $76,600 in small dollar contributions of which $68,900 must come from in-state contributors. In 2018, grant amounts are $1,354,250 for gubernatorial candidates in primaries and $406,275 for all other statewide candidates in primaries.