Three BP candidates receive city matching funds

Queens borough president candidates at a candidate forum in February. Eagle photo by David Brand

By Victoria Merlino

Three candidates in the race for Queens borough president have qualified for thousands of dollars in city matching funds with less than a month to go before the election. 

Former Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley, Councilmember Costa Constantinides and Councilmember Donovan Richards received nearly $1 million in the second round of matching funds, the New York City Campaign Finance Board announced last week. Richards received $446,633 in matching funds, Crowley received $369,407 and Constantinides received $107,382.

Crowley and Constanitnides received almost $500,000 each in matching funds during the first round in January. Richards did not qualify to receive funds during that first round. 

The public matching fund program is a voluntary city program that helps incentivize candidates to collect small dollar contributions in municipal elections. To qualify for the program in the Queens borough president special election, candidates had to receive 100 contributions from Queens residents and raise at least $44,614 in funds. 

Constantinides, Crowley and Richards received an $8-to-$1 matching rate for the first $175 of a single person’s contributions. This means that the candidates can receive a maximum of $1,400 in public funds per contributor. Contributions to matching program participants are capped at $750.

All candidates chose to participate in the matching funds program, the Eagle previously reported, though no other candidates qualified besides Constantinides, Crowley and Richards in this second round of funding.  

In total, almost $2 million in public matching funds have poured into the Queens borough president special election. Of the three qualifying candidates, Crowley has received the most matching funds: $867,202. 

The Queens borough president special election will take place on March 24.