Attorneys for New York Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman argued in state Supreme Court in Albany Friday.
It’s after Blakeman sued the state Public Campaign Finance Board last month for denying his campaign millions of dollars of public matching funds over a technicality concerning the filing of paperwork.
Blakeman’s attorney, Adam Fusco, said the board “dropped the ball.”
“At the end of the day, I can’t see how they get past the fact that Mr. Blakeman and Mr. Hood were thrown out of the program based on a regulation that wasn’t in effect when they were certified,” said Fusco.
While Blakeman’s campaign calls the decision “partisan,” attorneys for the board in court said “no one was treated differently.”
The lawsuit centers on a paperwork oversight where Blakeman’s running mate, Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood, was required to file separate paperwork in addition to Blakeman to qualify for the matching funds program.
The cost to the campaign is up to $7 million.
Hood maintains he was never notified nor provided any forms or guidance.
He spoke to reporters on Tuesday following a press conference with the New York State Sheriff’s Association at the state Capitol.
“You have to fill the form out, but it’s not even made,” said Hood. “So, yeah, it’s definitely suspicious. Why would you do that without having the proper paperwork?”
Attorneys for the finance board left court Friday without providing a comment to Spectrum News 1, but in court argued joint doesn’t mean “a single piece of paper.” Also adding, candidates are instructed to jointly submit which signifies as them filing jointly.
The finance board’s attorneys are moving to have the case dismissed.
The Hon. Denise Hartman told both sides she is anticipating a short turn around in a week or two with a decision so everyone knows how they need to proceed.