The Democracy Fund approved another $19,060 Thursday night in public money for Justin Elicker’s campaign for the Democratic mayoral nomination.
The Fund administers New Haven’s mayoral public-financing program. It offers up to $125,000 in grants and matching dollars to candidates who agree to limit individual donations to $390 and to swear off contributions from political action committees and government contractors.
Elicker is participating in the program, which is voluntary and the only one of its kind in the state (though there are several similar programs across the country). The Fund was designed to combat the perception that big money and special interest plays a significant role in the New Haven mayor’s race.
The latest grant brings his total Democracy Fund disbursements this campaign cycle to $66,412, according to the agency’s administrator, Alyson Heimer. Heimer said that tops the $54,470 the Fund provided Elicker in his 2013 campaign.
Mayor Toni Harp, whom Elicker is challenging in a Sept. 10 primary, is not participating int he program. She said that’s because she disagrees with how the program is set up.
Overall, the Elicker campaign has raised $284,665 so far, including the Democracy Fund money, according to a release from the Elicker campaign. It stated the 70 percent of the 908 individual contributors live in New Haven.
“We are showing that clean campaigns are winning campaigns as they are driven directly by grassroots contributions and can significantly outraise opponents, even when those opponents are taking big checks from contractors and special interests,” the statement quotes Elicker as saying.