Secretary of the State Candidate Gerry Garcia
Speaks on Campaign Finance Laws
New Haven, CT--New Haven candidate for Secretary of the State Gerry
Garcia called on Attorney General candidate and current Secretary of
the State Susan Bysiewicz to reconsider her decision to withdraw from
the public financing system.
Garcia is the only candidate for any constitutional office who has filed the necessary paperwork to participate in Connecticut's public financing laws.
"Today I am asking all candidates for statewide office to demonstrate their commitment to a level playing field by following our example and participating in Connecticut's public financing rules. It's important not only when it's convenient. It's important because it is the right thing to do. We must never return to the days when those with the deepest wallets or the best special interest friends shut others out of the system. Not participating in the public financing system puts the candidate above the interests of the voters.
"I intend to prove by example that the campaign finance system not only can work but that we need it work. I stand by my commitment to this office, to the public financing system and to seeing this race through until the last vote is counted in November.
"This is about restoring integrity and having a clean elections system. There are some who have been exploring since early 2009 who have not declared their candidacy, others who pledged to participate in campaign finance resist making it official, and still others who have stated an intention to run can't quite commit.
"Those who disparage the system or back-peddle from it risk creating a domino effect where those who can afford to self-finance will opt out of a system designed to treat all participants fairly. The public deserves better.
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