WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2006. From Westchester Fair Campaign Practices Committee. November 7, 2006: The Westchester Fair Campaign Practices Committee (WCFCPC) met on November 6, 2006 to hear the complaints filed by Councilman Dennis Power against Mr. Cass Cibelli. Both are candidates for White Plains Common Council. Mr. Power attended and was represented by Adam Bradley. Mr. Cibelli chose not to attend or send a representative.
Complaint: A campaign mailer critical of Councilman Dennis Power fails to identify by name the source of the mailing, only an address.
Finding: UNFAIR CAMPAIGN PRACTICE
The WCFCPC Statement of Principles states; “The candidate will clearly identify by name the source of all advertisements and campaign literature published and distributed.”
Complaint: Mr. Power complains that the flyer states he “… is being investigated by Federal Authorities for possible violation of campaign laws” and, further, is “…Also Subject to State Ethics Investigation for Improper Voting.”
Finding: UNFAIR CAMPAIGN PRACTICE
These statements are unfair because they distort the facts. Nothing was presented to show that Mr. Power is being investigated on either a Federal or State level.
Complaint: According to the complaint, the flyer maintains that “Power supports his County Bosses’ directives to house dangerous sex predators in downtown White Plains.” Mr. Power says there is no such county directive and that the individuals housed at 85 Court Street are not, “identified ‘dangerous sex predators.’” He claims that, “The flyer is both inaccurate and strongly appeals to prejudices against the homeless.”
Finding: UNFAIR CAMPAIGN PRACTICE
This statement in the campaign mailer also distorts the facts. The housing in downtown White Plains was created as a temporary shelter for homeless people who are locked in at night and released in the morning.
WESTCHESTER COUNTY
FAIR CAMPAIGN PRACTICES COMMITTEE
C/o LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF WESTCHESTER
The Committee has no power to compel anyone to stop doing what it has found to be unfair. If the Committee acts on a complaint, it will release its findings to inform the public. The Committee may choose not to consider a complaint; in that case, a hearing is not held and the parties to the complaint are so notified.
Statement of Principles of the WCFCPC, as stated in its Manual, is available at www.lwvwestchester.org (click on “about the committee” in the paragraph describing the FCPC). The Westchester County Fair Campaign Practices Committee believes that candidates should conduct their campaigns in accordance with the following principles:
The Westchester County Fair Campaign Practices Committee believes that candidates should conduct their campaigns in accordance with the following principles:
The candidate will conduct a campaign for public office openly and fairly.
The candidate will discuss the issues and participate in fair debate with respect to his/her views and qualifications.
The candidate will neither engage in nor be involved with unfair or misleading attacks upon the character of an opponent, nor will the candidate engage in invasions of personal privacy unrelated to fitness for office.
The candidate will not participate in or condone any appeal to prejudice.
The candidate will neither use nor be involved with the use of any campaign material or advertisement that misrepresents or distorts the facts.
The candidate will clearly identify by name the source of all advertisements and campaign literature published and distributed.
The candidate will not abuse the Westchester County Fair Campaign Practices Committee process in order to obtain political advantage.
The candidate will publicly repudiate materials or actions from any individual or group which would violate this Statement of Principles.
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If a candidate or campaign wishes to quote from this Finding, the Committee requires that the
Finding be quoted in its entirety. The Committee regards selective quotation of its Findings as a
violation of fair campaign process.
Committee Members: Stephanie Sarnoff (Chair), Milton Hoffman (Vice Chair), Susan Pace Guma,
Ruth Hinerfeld, Burton M. Leiser, Robert Peterson, Ernest Prince, Joy Rosenzweig (Coordinator),
Susan Schwarz, Evelyn Stock. Ex officio: Representatives of Republican Party, Democratic Party,
Independence Party, Conservative Party, Working Families Party.
