US News

223G ELEX FINE FOR FERRER ERROR

Former Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer yesterday was fined $223,194 for campaign-finance violations during the 2001 mayor’s race.

The massive fine – the second-largest such penalty in city history – puts a dent in Ferrer’s war chest as he considers another run for City Hall in 2005.

The bulk of the penalty came from Ferrer’s overspending in his runoff defeat to eventual Democratic nominee Mark Green.

Ferrer exceeded the $2.6 million runoff spending limit by $99,270, and he was fined $174,832 for the violation.

He was also fined $47,602 for overspending that same amount in the primary, which had a limit of $5.2 million.

Four other minor violations cost Ferrer $760.

He has 30 days to pay the total $223,194.

Although the two-time mayoral candidate was informed that the Campaign Finance Board would be handing down a decision on the matter, neither Ferrer nor anyone on his staff was at the hearing.

Ferrer – who is widely seen as a leading Democratic contender in next year’s primary and is the only potential candidate who has consistently led Mayor Bloomberg in polls – was out of town yesterday.

But in a written statement, Ferrer’s lawyer, Stanley Schlein – noting that the Sept. 11, 2001, primary was thrown into turmoil by that day’s terror attacks – accepted the board’s decision, calling the financial offenses his client made “technical and unintentional.”

“September 2001 . . . impacted on the way our municipal political campaigns were conducted on and after September 11,” said Schlein.

“People for Ferrer endeavored to react timely and appropriately to the changing guidelines imposed by the Campaign Finance Board.”

Ferrer’s fine fell just short of the all-time high imposed against former Mayor David Dinkins, who was penalized $250,000 for violations stemming from his failed 1993 re-election campaign against Rudy Giuliani.

Until yesterday, Giuliani held the record for the second-biggest fine, with a $220,000 penalty for financial infractions made during his 1997 victory over Ruth Messinger.

Although Ferrer has not officially said that he’s running for the city’s top political spot, he has already raised $750,000 for an undeclared 2005 race.

In the letter to the CFB, Ferrer representative Steven Presser asked that the board consider lowering the fine due to “unique circumstances faced during the 2001 campaign, notably the after-effects of 9/11.”

Presser asked that the fine be reduced in order to “avoid a significant and detrimental effect upon this committee.”

$laps

Violation – Fine

Exceeded primary expenditure limit – $47,602

Exceeded run-off primary expenditure limit – $174,832

$500 over-the-limit contribution – $180

Failure to document in-kind contribution – $40

Corporate in-kind contribution – $180

Two unregistered political committee contributions – $360

Total Fine = $223,194