Darien Democrat is First Candidate for the 141st State Representative Seat to Be Accepted into Revolutionary Campaign Finance Reform Program
August 30, 2012, Darien, CT -- Rob Werner, the Democratic candidate for State Representative for the 141st district, has qualified for the Connecticut Citizens Election Program (CEP). The Commission approved Werner’s grant application after a lengthy eligibility process.
The Citizens Election Program, announced in 2005, allows candidates for the General Assembly to receive full public financing once they meet set requirements. Candidates must demonstrate they have sufficient support from their constituents and may only accept small dollar contributions from individuals. The maximum contribution is $100 and donations cannot be obtained from state contractors, political action committees (PACs), unions or corporations. Candidates need to get contributions from a minimum number of district residents - specifically 150 for State Representative nominees. They must raise $5,000 from individuals in order to qualify for the grant. Werner secured over 200 individual contributors and 72 percent gave $50 or less.
“Large monetary contributions from special interests, PACs and individuals can skew the way elected officials go about representing the voters. I am a strong proponent of campaign finance reform and think that the CEP is a excellent program that offers the voter another way to gauge the integrity of the candidate,” said Rob Werner. “By opting to participate in this program, I have only accepted individual contributions and am pleased to set this precedent in the 141st district.”
Robert (Rob) A. Werner, a lawyer, writer and active volunteer in the community and school districts is running for the 141st State Representative Seat. Werner, a former Hartford resident who has been based in Darien for the last 16 years, is poised to bring a wealth of experience to the position including a deep knowledge of public policy and the political landscape in Hartford. Over the years, he has coached over 15 baseball and softball teams in Darien, volunteers at the Norwalk Emergency shelter helping the homeless and served as an active member of the Royle Elementary School PTO.
For more information visit www.werner2012.com.
