If you take public financing, and you don't qualify for the ballot, what happens to the money?

[Anonymous]

Just reading in the City Paper that Kenyan McDuffie got something like $700,000 in DC Fair Elections money. Does he now have to give it back?

[Anonymous]

Whatever isn't spent is supposed to be returned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just reading in the City Paper that Kenyan McDuffie got something like $700,000 in DC Fair Elections money. Does he now have to give it back?

I guess consulting fees to his campaign's consultants, who happen to be his relatives.

[Anonymous]

So this is where it gets interesting. What smarter people tell me is they can't keep him off the ballot, requirements are set by the Home Rule Charter and can't be made stricter administratively. However, since he's violating the terms of the public financing they can probably make him give back all the money he got, even what he's already spent. My understanding is he had spent over $250,000 when he withdrew. So that needs to be returned -- or he's personally liable.

I suppose he could try to get the Council to change the law on an emergency basis. Again.

[Anonymous]

The circled part is pretty clear. He qualified for the Fair Election Program and accepted the matching funds.

That he didn't qualify for the ballot is not an issue where the circled provision is concerned.