Write those checks,
Pollina supporters. Judge Sessions says it's OK.
Anthony
Pollina supporters may each write checks for as much as $2,000 to support his gubernatorial candidacy, U.S. District Judge William Sessions ruled Wednesday.
Based on the decision,
Pollina, an independent candidate for governor, won’t have to return contributions in excess of $1,000 to 35 contributors, as state officials had ordered.
Five
Pollina contributors had challenged the planned enforcement of stricter limits by the Attorney General and Secretary of State.
Sessions ruled that since
Pollina started out as a Progressive Party candidate, he, like other major party candidates, could accept contributions up to $2,000 per person or organization at any time — from campaign kickoff up to election day.
Even though
Pollina decided in July to run as an independent and no longer faced a primary election, Session said his change in status
didn’t change the rules on contributions.
The state had argued that
Pollina never officially became a Progressive candidate because he
didn’t file the paperwork in July. Sessions countered that
Pollina met the definition of a candidate in the campaign finance law by announcing that he was running, collecting donations and making expenditures on a campaign.
So is this ruling too late to breathe financial life into the
Pollina campaign?
-- Nancy
Remsen
