"New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, the Democratic nominee, said he will not participate in a general election debate that had been scheduled for Thursday evening. The candidates seeking to unseat Williams did not meet the minimum thresholds set by the city's Campaign Finance Board, he said. "We strongly support the Campaign Finance Board's regulations and debate processes. At this time, the other candidates have not come anywhere near meeting the thresholds required to qualify," Williams said in a statement shared with the debate's media hosts. "If there were a way to make timing and criteria align, we'd gladly take part in a meaningful debate.""
"The Campaign Finance Board had said participation in debates was mandatory for any citywide candidate who received matching funds. Candidates for public advocate were required to have raised and spent $123,975 to appear on the debate stage. Campaign records show Williams' opponents were not close to that benchmark. Republican and Conservative Party candidate Gonzalo Duran has raised $2,575 and spent $79. Independent candidate Marty Dolan has raised $80,053 and spent more than $103,000, leaving his campaign $23,000 in debt. Neither candidate has received public matching funds and neither was immediately available for comment."
Jumaane Williams declined participation in a scheduled general election debate after opponents failed to meet the city's Campaign Finance Board thresholds for debate qualification. Debate participation was mandatory for any citywide candidate receiving matching funds, and public advocate contenders needed to have raised and spent $123,975 to qualify. Williams has received significant public matching funds, totaling about $1.3 million overall and over $31,000 for the general election. Opponents raised far less: Gonzalo Duran raised $2,575 and spent $79, while Marty Dolan raised $80,053 and spent more than $103,000, leaving his campaign in debt.
Read at Gothamist
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