Candidates Apply For New Public Financing Program

Candidates for state office are scrambling to apply for grants this year, hoping to take advantage of Connecticut's new public financing program for statewide elections. WNPR's Patrick Skahill reports.

Beth Rotman is Director of Public Campaign Financing for the Connecticut State Election Enforcement Commission. She makes sure candidates running for statewide elections and the general assembly meet all the required criteria to apply for public financing.

So far, she says the applications are pouring in.

"We look on track to have a majority of statewide candidates participate in the citizens election program, which is really great, because as you said, this is our first run of the program for statewide offices."

Rotman's commission has already approved about $3.2 million in public financing grants. With about $40 million in the bank she believes her commission will have enough to cover every application, but says things may get tight.

"So there's not a huge buffer there, but we do seem on track to havethe funds we need to pay for all the 2010 grants."

The Commission already approved an application from gubernatorial candidate Dan Malloy. Applications from Lt. Governor Michael Fedele and Denise Merrill will be voted on this Thursday.  

Candidates have until July 16th to apply for grant funding for the state primary.

For WNPR, I'm Patrick Skahill.