New Haven Independent

DeStefano didn’t end up withdrawing, and the program carried on, approving funds to its only participant— an incumbent mayor who has raised $85,000 for a virtually unchallenged reelection bid.

Mayor DeStefano, seeking his eighth term in office, is being challenged by two quiet contenders: Green Ralph Ferrucci and Republican Richter Elser, neither of whom have yet raised or spent $5,000, according to the Democracy Fund.

The moment of fate came at a Thursday meeting of the Democracy Fund, the team of mayoral appointees chosen to oversee the state’s first municipally funded public elections program, which New Haven is piloting this year. DeStefano has acclaimed the program for encouraging the input of many, small local voters instead of big, out-of-town money bags.

In exchange for agreeing to spending limits and proving support among local voters, candidates can qualify for matching funds and grants from a pool of taxpayer money. DeStefano applied and got a check for $26,850.

When unexpected bumps in the campaign road landed the Democracy Fund off-track, the DeStefano campaign’s patience wore thin. First, Democrat Jim Newton unexpectedly failed to get on the ballot after months of campaigning, eliminating the scheduled primary battle, and spurring the Democracy Fund to withdraw a $15,000 grant it had awarded the DeStefano team.

Then came the kicker: In a message last week, Democracy Fund administrator Robert Wechsler (pictured above at right) asked the DeStefano campaign to submit records so that the board could decide whether any of the $11,680 in matching funds needed to be returned.

“We were frustrated” at the “inconsistency” of the Fund’s actions, explained DeStefano’s campaign manager, Adriana Arreola. Their attorney, Gerald T. Weiner, sent a seething missive to Wechsler saying the campaign would be forced to withdraw from the program if the board asked for matching funds to be returned.

“The last thing we want to do is withdraw from the Fund, but their back and forth on their interpretations have paralyzed the campaign,” wrote Arreola (pictured) in a press release. “We don’t know what we can raise, what money we can spend, what we can ask donors to give or when the board will change their minds again - or on what on issue.”

At the meeting, Wechsler said he had never asked for them to give the funds back. He just asked to “see their books” to discern if any money needed to be returned.

In the end, no dramatic pullout was needed. The Democracy Fund Thursday voted to allow DeStefano to keep his matching funds. They reasoned that though no primary election took place, a brief “primary season” did occur, ending on Aug. 12 when Newton dropped out. DeStefano spent $60,000 during that season, so the board concluded he had used up his matching funds and did not have to give any back.

The DeStefano team may now re-apply for a $15,000 grant by raising another round of contributions from 200 voters for the general election. His contenders have submitted statements pledging to join the program, but have not yet raised enough money to qualify.

With so many ups and downs, and the mayor growing “frustrated” at his own appointees, is the clean election program working?

“It has its kinks,” replied Arreola, but the volunteers who run the board, grappling with a new program in a new election season, “are doing the best they can.”