GOP chair accuses CT elections commission of interfering: ‘They’re putting their thumb on the scale’

The chair of the Connecticut Republican Party has accused the State Elections Enforcement Commission of “interfering” with State House and Senate races by delaying campaign finance grants through the Citizens’ Election Program .

In an interview with the Courant, State Republican Chairman Ben Proto said a number of candidates in his party have yet to receive CEP distributions despite applying for grants weeks ago. Proto also accused SEEC of unduly disqualifying or “kicking back” contributions by challenging the validity of donors, which candidates are required to amass in order to qualify for a CEP grant.

“SEEC is interfering with elections,” Proto said. “They’re putting their thumb on the scale on elections by withholding (CEP grants) and taking their time and kicking back (contributions).”

SEEC representatives refuted Proto’s accusations.

In a statement to the Courant, SEEC Executive Director and General Counsel Michael Brandi said the commission’s “processes have not changed.”

“Our office is, and always has been, nonpartisan,” Brandi said. “To suggest otherwise is irresponsible.”

Connecticut established CEP in 2005 to provide eligible candidates for statewide office and the General Assembly with public dollars to finance their campaigns. In recent years studies have heralded the program as a national model for clean elections .

To become eligible for a grant, which can reach up to $124,100 for Senate campaigns and $36,500 for House campaigns, candidates must raise $17,300 and $5,800 respectively from 150 to 300 residents in their district, in increments of $5 to $320. Lobbyists and current or prospective state contractors can not count as qualifying contributors.

Proto claimed that SEEC has “kicked back” contributions from annual donors who “have lived at the same address, had the same job and used the same credit card for 10 years” because SEEC is unsure about the donor’s card or zip code.

Proto said that there are “candidates who applied for the grant six weeks ago to SEEC, who have still not gotten a response.”

Without the grant, Proto said candidates lack the resources to purchase lawn signs and other campaign material in the leadup to the election.

“We’re coming into October, they haven’t gotten their money yet,” Proto said.

Proto said CEP delays affect candidates “on both sides of the aisle.” However, Proto added, “I will have people tell you it’s done more to Republicans than it is to Democrats.”

“I don’t have statistical proof of that, but I hear more from Republicans that they haven’t gotten their money than I hear from Democrats (who) haven’t gotten their money,” Proto said.

According to an analysis of CEP data by the Courant, there are currently 16 races for House and Senate seats where Republicans and Democrats have completed CEP applications but only one competitor has been approved for a grant.

In 13 of the races, the Democrat is the candidate with an SEEC-approved CEP disbursement. In each case, the Democratic candidate was the first to submit a CEP application and in all but one race SEEC approved the Democratic candidates for a grant before their Republican opponents even completed their application.

In total, SEEC has approved grant disbursements for approximately 92% of Democratic applicants and 88% of Republican applicants.

Among the 14 Democrats and 13 Republicans who are still waiting for SEEC to approve their grants, nine and 10 candidates, respectively, submitted their CEP application on or after the full-grant deadline on Aug. 26.

Of the candidates SEEC has approved for a grant, Democrats waited between five and 99 days for approval after completing their application. Republican candidates waited between 6 and 104 days. On average, the wait time was 25 days for Democrats and 23 days for Republicans.

“The application and approval process does take time,” Nancy DiNardo , the chair of the Connecticut Democratic Party, said. “Should it go faster? I don’t know. I guess it could, but … it’s not unusual for people to be getting (their CEP grant) once they’re into the campaign season.”

DiNardo said that if Proto has proof of prejudice “he should present it.”

She added that from her perspective SEEC “doesn’t favor one side over the other.”

“The commission has five members that are appointed by the governor and the leaders of the four legislative caucuses. So, it is a bipartisan commission,” DiNardo said.

DiNardo added that CEP has allowed more candidates to run in districts “where we might not have had candidates.”

“They are running because they know that if they follow the rules they could get the money,” DiNardo said. “They don’t have to be out there raising money, and I think that is certainly a plus and it has encouraged more people to run, which I think is very good.”