By Tom Momberg
The city Campaign Finance Board hit a political consultant group with fines for helping an anti-horse-drawn carriage group orchestrate campaign contributions to Council candidates in 2013 in excess of legal limits.
The illegal coordination between the consultant, The Advance Group, and an independent spender, the anti-carriage group, was investigated by the CFB and state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.
The CFB ruled Oct. 8 it would fine The Advance Group $15,000 and fine the state an additional $10,800.
“New York voters deserve elections that are fair and free of coordination that distorts the democratic process,” Schneiderman said in a statement. “The law preventing coordination between candidates and advocacy campaigns is clear. Today’s agreement sends a clear message that campaign coordination is unacceptable in New York City and state politics.”
New Yorkers for Clean, Livable and Safe Streets, the animal and political advocacy group that has been trying to sway City Council votes to ban the horse-carriage industry in Central Park, spent millions in the 2013 election on contributions to those in favor of the ban and on campaigns attacking those who opposed it.
NYCLASS contributed funds to Mayor Bill de Blasio and other candidates who sought to put an end to the industry the group sees as inhumane and cruel, although industry supporters claim the horses are well cared for.
Many of the carriage drivers are residents of Bayside and Jackson Heights.
The CFB fined NYCLASS about $26,000 in December for sidestepping the rules by disbursing too much money to at least two City Council candidates in 2013.
Those candidates, Laurie Cumbo (D-Brooklyn) and Mark Levine (D-Manhattan) were fined about $7,900 and $8,700, respectively, in May 2014 for having accepted those campaign contributions after being warned they would be in violation of CFB rules.
The CFB issued a total of $58,000 in fines to all parties involved in the illegal contributions coordinated by The Advance Group.
The Advance Group said it accepted the fines to avoid costly legal fees to fight the case.
Reach reporter Tom Momberg by e-mail at tmomb
