Pols put positive FACE on campaign Some candidates have already qualified for public funding BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer Legislative candidates in District 14 mostly have reported satisfaction with the way the Fair and Clean Elections (FACE) Pilot Project has so far shaped their campaigns. The program is an experiment in the use of public funds for political campaigns with the goal of minimizing the influence of special interest groups on the electoral process. District 14, which covers parts of Middlesex and Mercer counties, was chosen as a test case for split districts where neither major party dominates. This acts as a contrast to the other "safe districts" taking part in the program - District 24 (Hunterdon/Morris/Sussex), which usually votes Republican, and District 37 (Bergen), which usually votes Democrat. Under the current pilot, candidates in Districts 24 and 37 must collect at least 400 donations of $10 each to earn access to $50,000 in public money. Each donation they receive beyond that increases the amount, to a maximum of $100,000 for 800 donors. Meanwhile, candidates can raise up to $10,000 in seed money donations that cannot exceed $500 each to help finance their quest for qualifying contributions. District 14, however, is operating under a different funding formula than the other two, which candidates have said is due to higher than average campaign costs there. In this race, 800 donations will net a candidate $534,375. The program is in its second test run after widespread criticism in the 2005 pilot program that qualifying for public funding was much too difficult. During the last test case, only two of the 10 eligible candidates managed to meet the program's support goals. Republican Assemblyman Bill Baroni, currently engaged in a run for the district's state Senate seat, had nothing but good things to say about the FACE pilot. "It has been one of the best things I've ever seen in politics," said Baroni, who was one of the sponsors of the legislation that put the pilot program in place. Baroni, of Hamilton, praised the program because it encourages politicians to get back to the grass roots and interact with their voters face to face. To this end, Baroni said he has been seeking donations primarily through house parties hosted by supporters in the district, getting away from the "fancy dinners and cocktail parties" that constituents typically associate with political fundraising. He also noted that once a candidate reaches 800 contributions, they can't raise any more, freeing up more time to talk to the public. "I've been involved in politics for a long time and I've never been more excited. This is revolutionary in New Jersey," said Baroni. Baroni's Democratic opponent for the Senate seat, Seema Singh, of South Brunswick, was also enthusiastic about the program. A newcomer to politics, she noted that while she has never campaigned before, she was pleased with the way the FACE program encouraged her to connect with voters on a one-to-one level. Both she and Baroni agreed that it was important to educate voters about the FACE program, with both speaking about it at length when talking to their constituents. "I think education is a very important part because people are of the mind-set of how a traditional campaign is run, with raising large monies and raising large donors," Singh said. "When you go to people and ask for $10, they look at you and go, 'Are you for real?' And when they learn about it, they really love it." Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein, another sponsor of the legislation, said she felt good about the program overall, but thought that the minimum number of donations could probably be lowered slightly while still keeping with the original spirit of the legislation. The Democrat from Plainsboro said that the donation quota under the current pilot is a vast improvement over 2005, when most candidates involved could not qualify. She also noted that there were some small technical details, such as the rules on coordinated campaigns, that needed some ironing out, though she said it was still much too soon in the pilot to really tell what needs to change. The program's true efficacy, she believes, can only be properly evaluated in hindsight. Greenstein has said on several occasions that it is important for the FACE program to keep out candidates who are not serious. Lou Jasikoff, the chairman of the New Jersey Libertarian Party, which is also running two candidates in District 14, said that this is code for third-party contenders, reflecting what he feels are constant efforts from the Democrats and Republicans to quash independent rivals. "She will find out we are serious candidates," Jasikoff said. The two Libertarians vying for Assembly seats, Jason Scheurer and Ray Cregle, are in the process of beginning their campaigns, and while they, too, will need to garner at least 400 $10 donations, as nonmajor party candidates they will only be eligible for up to $50,000 should they reach the maximum of 800 contributions. Assuming every candidate reaches this goal, this means they will still face a 10-1 funding disadvantage, a fact that infuriates Jasikoff, who said the major parties have already rigged the system. He said the current pilot program, thus, is anything but fair. He did note, however, that the public funds the candidates are eligible for still exceeds what a Libertarian typically raises in legislative races. While Jasikoff is uncomfortable with the use of taxpayer money to fund political campaigns, he said it will help increase the party's visibility and allow candidates to more easily get their message to the public. With this in mind, Jasikoff said that the party is eager to "do battle" with the major parties. "We'll fight on a 10-1 disadvantage. That's fine. It's usually a lot worse than that," said Jasikoff. "They really do not want to see a third voice, but they will get it this time." He called on the other candidates not to take advantage of an option that exists in the legislation that allows candidates to pull out of FACE. He said that if they are serious about the program, they should go on the record saying they will stick with it until the bitter end. According to Baroni, all three Republican candidates in District 14 have reached the required 400-donation minimum to qualify for public funding. Singh announced that she was the first candidate in the race to similarly qualify, and Greenstein said that she passed her threshold after a fundraiser on Monday. The other Democrat for Assembly, Wayne D'Angelo, has reached about 300, according to party's campaign manager John Duthie. The candidates running for District 14's two Assembly seats are Republicans Adam Bushman, of Jamesburg, and Tom Goodwin, of Hamilton; Democrats Greenstein and D'Angelo; and Libertarians Scheurer and Cregle. Baroni and Singh will face off for the district's seat in the Senate, which is being vacated by Republican Peter Inverso. The municipalities located in District 14 are Cranbury, Hamilton, Jamesburg, Monroe, Plainsboro, South Brunswick and West Windsor. quash independent rivals. "She will find out we are serious candidates," Jasikoff said. The two Libertarians vying for Assembly seats, Jason Scheurer and Ray Cregle, are in the process of beginning their campaigns, and while they, too, will need to garner at least 400 $10 donations, as nonmajor party candidates they will only be eligible for up to $50,000 should they reach the maximum of 800 contributions. Assuming every candidate reaches this goal, this means they will still face a 10-1 funding disadvantage, a fact that infuriates Jasikoff, who said the major parties have already rigged the system. He said the current pilot program, thus, is anything but fair. He did note, however, that the public funds the candidates are eligible for still exceeds what a Libertarian typically raises in legislative races. While Jasikoff is uncomfortable with the use of taxpayer money to fund political campaigns, he said it will help increase the party's visibility and allow candidates to more easily get their message to the public. With this in mind, Jasikoff said that the party is eager to "do battle" with the major parties. "We'll fight on a 10-1 disadvantage. That's fine. It's usually a lot worse than that," said Jasikoff. "They really do not want to see a third voice, but they will get it this time." He called on the other candidates not to take advantage of an option that exists in the legislation that allows candidates to pull out of FACE. He said that if they are serious about the program, they should go on the record saying they will stick with it until the bitter end. According to Baroni, all three Republican candidates in District 14 have reached the required 400-donation minimum to qualify for public funding. Singh announced that she was the first candidate in the race to similarly qualify, and Greenstein said that she passed her threshold after a fundraiser on Monday. The other Democrat for Assembly, Wayne D'Angelo, has reached about 300, according to party's campaign manager John Duthie. The candidates running for District 14's two Assembly seats are Republicans Adam Bushman, of Jamesburg, and Tom Goodwin, of Hamilton; Democrats Greenstein and D'Angelo; and Libertarians Scheurer and Cregle. Baroni and Singh will face off for the district's seat in the Senate, which is being vacated by Republican Peter Inverso. The municipalities located in District 14 are Cranbury, Hamilton, Jamesburg, Monroe, Plainsboro, South Brunswick and West Windsor.