07/13/08 "One thing really exciting thing we're hearing from more individuals is they don't have to be wealthy to run for office,"

Campaign finance laws make impact

By KEN DIXON

Connecticut Post

... Crisco has been ruled ineligible for the CEP, but because he doesn't have a primary next month, he'll have all summer to gather contributions from throughout and outside his district, pioneering the approach that those who don't join the public-financing program will have to take, including a Republican Senate candidate from Greenwich.

Crisco can also take amounts in excess of $100 and expects to receive money from political action committees within Senate Democratic leadership aimed at keeping the current 23-13 majority, at least. "The message here is the Citizens' Election Program is vibrant, the candidates are taking to it and we're getting a positive reaction," said Jeffrey B. Garfield, executive director of the SEEC. "The reliance on special interests and state contractors is no longer there."

So far, the CEP has awarded funding for 33 House candidates and eight Senate candidates. Among the eight candidates approved for funding last week included first-term Rep. Kim Fawcett, D-Fairfield, and veteran Rep. Patricia Dillon, D-New Haven, who are both running for re-election, and six-term Rep. Antonietta Boucher, R-Wilton, who is running for the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Judith G. Freedman, R-Westport.

Beth Rotman, the SEEC's director of public campaign financing, said the cleaner campaign rules are attracting more interested candidates.

"One thing really exciting thing we're hearing from more individuals is they don't have to be wealthy to run for office," she said last week. "That's something that could bring new life to politics."

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