This might seem like a no-brainer to non-politicians, but at least one member of the New York City Council apparently wanted to know if it would be all right to make a city-funded mailing to constituents just before the council member’s primary for party district leader.
An attorney for the Council asked the city’s Campaign Finance Board for a ruling on whether a council member could make a constituent mailing within 90 days of this September’s Democratic party primary.
The answer, as you might expect, was “No.”
The exchange comes during an off-year election for council members, who will not run again until 2008. But some council members also hold party posts that are up this fall.
The Campaign Finance Board ruled earlier this week that such a mailing less than 90 days before a party primary was not allowed under its rules.
“By prohibiting the mass distribution of literature at government expense during the election season, the Ninety-Day Rule prevents potential mailings by office-holders at public expense to influence voters as an election campaign advances,” the CFB said in a ruling posted on its Web site.
Bill Murphy