FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 25, 2002

FOR INFORMATION

Jeanne Olson ‑ (651) 296‑1721

Jeff Sigurdson ‑ (651) 296‑1720

    CAMPAIGN FINANCE AND PUBLIC DISCLOSURE BOARD ISSUES FINAL PUBLIC SUBSIDY PAYMENTS TO QUALIFYING CANDIDATES IN 2002 ELECTIONS

          The Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board paid public subsidy payments totaling $4,442,832 to eligible state candidates in 2002.   Public subsidy payments were made to 421 Constitutional, state Senate, and state House of Representatives candidates.  

            Public subsidy payments are made from the General Account and the Party Accounts of the State Elections Campaign Fund.  Money is allocated to the Fund based on taxpayer checkoffs on state tax returns.  The General Account fund is also supplemented by a direct appropriation of $1,500,000 each general election year.  Payments are made to eligible state Senate and state House of Representatives candidates who were opposed at either the primary or general election. For the 2002 election, 14 constitutional office, 133 state Senate, and 272 state House of Representative candidates received general account payments totaling $ 2,655,348.  The General Account is allocated between offices on a statutory formula and the amount available for each office is divided by the number of candidates qualifying for the payment.  General account payments are summarized in the table on the following page:

            Party account payments totaling $1,787,484 were made to 421 candidates in 2002.   Party account payments are summarized in the following table:

            Payments made from the State Elections Campaign Fund are based on Department of Revenue processing of approximately 100% of tax returns. State Senate and House candidate payments are based on checkoffs on state tax returns for tax years 2000 and 2001 while Constitutional candidate payments are based on returns for tax years 1998 through 2001.

            To be eligible to participate in the public subsidy programs, a candidate must sign and file a Public Subsidy Agreement with the Board in which the candidate agrees to abide by statutory campaign expenditure limits and to limit contributions by the candidate to the candidate's principal campaign committee.  A candidate must also raise a specified amount in individual contributions and file an affidavit stating that this requirement has been met.

            Of the 536 candidates who filed an affidavit of candidacy for Constitutional office, state Senate, or for the state House of Representatives in July 2002, 510 registered campaign committees with the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board.  Of the 510 registered candidates 506, or over 99%, signed Public Subsidy Agreements.   

            A candidate who is unopposed in both the primary and general elections may not receive public subsidy.  Party Account funds, which would have otherwise been available to an unopposed candidate, is paid to the candidate's political party.  A total of $16,564 will be paid to the Democratic Farmer Labor Party for five unopposed candidates, and $7,538 will be paid to the Republican Party for three unopposed candidates.

             Information about payments from the State Elections Campaign Fund is available from the Board office, Suite 190, Centennial Building, 658 Cedar Street, St. Paul.

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A report of candidates and their payment amounts is attached.