Making history

Yesterday our campaign became the first State Senate campaign in state history to qualify for the Citizens' Election Fund under the new campaign finance reform law. While I am opposed to the use of taxpayers' money to finance, special interest money has been removed from State Senate campaigns - and that's a good thing.

Below is the press release that we sent out yesterday:


Kane Qualifies for Public Financing

Watertown, CT – Rob Kane, Republican candidate for state Senate in the 32nd District, today became the first state Senate candidate to qualify for public campaign financing when the Elections Enforcement Commission certified that he has met the threshold for private campaign donations. Under new campaign finance laws, a candidate for state Senate in a special election must raise at least $11,250 and receive donations from 225 district residents in order to qualify for public financing.

Kane won the Republican nomination on December 4th and in less than two weeks raised a total of $14,200 – most of it ($11,495) from 362 residents of the 32nd District. As a result, he will receive $63,750 dollars from the Citizens Election Fund to communicate with voters during the 32nd District special election.

“Reaching this milestone puts my campaign on good footing for the race ahead,” said Kane. “I’m grateful for the groundswell of support my campaign is receiving. The fact that we met this milestone in spite of the approaching holidays and difficult weather is testament to the hard work and dedication of our grass roots organization.”

Senate Minority Leader John McKinney complimented Kane on his accomplishment.

“The fact that Rob Kane was able to qualify in such a short period of time is telling of just how committed 32nd District Republicans are to getting him elected,” said Senator McKinney. “Rob has put together a strong leadership team. He is focused on the right issues –fiscal prudence, public safety and education. And he has demonstrated he has the grass roots support necessary to win his race.”

Kane said that while he is fundamentally opposed to financing political campaigns with taxpayer dollars, he is pleased the new campaign finance laws have taken special interest money out of our elections, allowing candidates more time to communicate with voters.

The Elections Enforcement Commission certified that 393 donors have contributed a total of $14,200 to Rob Kane’s campaign. Of that total, $11,495 were contributed by 32nd District residents.

The 32nd District special election will be held January 15.