Abinanti Urges Campaign Finance Reform & Public Funding for District Attorney Elections

TARRYTOWN- “We must preserve public confidence in the integrity of our criminal justice system,” said Assemblyman Tom Abinanti (D-Greenburgh/Mt. Pleasant) as he called for passage of his legislation which would provide public financing for district attorney elections. “We need to prevent conflicts and the appearance of conflicts for our prosecutors.”

In February of this year, Abinanti introduced a bill (A5841) that would provide for optional public financing of primary and general election campaigns for district attorneys and state Supreme Court justices. The legislation would set eligibility requirements and thresholds for candidates to access public monies. It would also set limits on contributions to candidates who participate in the public financing system, provide matching funds for contributions that meet specified criteria and define permissible and prohibited uses for the public funds. The matching funds would be financed from the state’s abandoned property fund.

“Public financing of district attorney elections will help insure that those who prosecute violations of our laws do so solely on the facts of the case.”