By Adam Pagnucco.
Update: Even though the deadline is May 12, the State Board of Elections said on March 30 that they will allow a candidate to file for matching funds as late as tomorrow (May 15) provided that all qualifying contributions were received by May 12. We will see if any of the above candidates file reports by tomorrow night.
Original Post: According to Montgomery County’s public campaign financing law, candidates have until 45 days before the primary election to qualify for public matching funds. Since the primary is on June 26, the qualifying period ended on Saturday, May 12. According to filings with the State Board of Elections, the following candidates did not qualify for matching funds by then and will not be receiving them.
Rosemary Arkoian – At-Large
Richard Banach – District 1
Craig Carozza-Caviness – At-Large
Bill Cook – District 1
Robin Ficker – County Executive
Lorna Phillips Forde – At-Large
Richard Gottfried – At-Large
Neil Greenberger – At-Large
Kevin Harris – District 5
Kenge Malikidogo-Fludd – District 5
Jim McGee – District 1
Melissa McKenna – At-Large
Darwin Romero – At-Large
In addition, Bethesda Magazine reported that these candidates were ruled ineligible for matching funds because their submissions to the State Board of Elections did not meet the thresholds of either in-county contributors or in-county money received to qualify.
Shruti Bhatnagar – At-Large
Loretta Garcia – At-Large
Paul Geller – At-Large
Michele Riley – At-Large
Tim Willard – At-Large
These eighteen candidates represent almost half of the thirty-eight active candidates in public financing. Starved of resources and unable to get their messages out, none of them will be elected.