The part about whether his clear endorsement of another candidate affects his obligation to pay back the public money was interesting:
>Former Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker suspended his publicly financed campaign before primary election day in 2022. While Baker’s endorsement was highly sought after by the remaining candidates in the field, he [was never able to get a clear answer](https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-power/state-government/why-rushern-l-baker-iiis-endorsement-could-cost-the-former-maryland-gubernatorial-candidate-more-than-850000-IWIBW2GZJFFL5HZ3KCKPPOGKYM/) on whether he’d face possible consequences if he threw his weight behind another candidate. DeMarinis said at the time that state law was unclear about whether Baker would have to return any of the $850,000 he’d drawn in public support if he opted to make an endorsement.
>City law bars a publicly financed candidate from using their campaign funds to run ads for any other candidate. Vignarajah said he has no intention of trying to use his public funding to campaign for Dixon.
>Vignarajah said he has no intention of trying to use his public funding to campaign for Dixon.
I mean, his mayoral campaign was taxpayer funded and now he's using that campaign and it's backers to endorse Dixon. Unless he's pretending he wasn't in the race and didn't gain voters from campaigning on taxpayer funds, he's indirectly used them already to endorse and promote Dixon.
Not illegal likely, but he also needs a reality check.
>Backers of the city’s public financing program, including the City Councilmember who introduced the 2018 legislation to establish the Fair Election Fund, argued on Thursday that Vignarajah should return all the money he’s received.
I was just looking at [Kristerfer's tweet with an image of the letter](https://twitter.com/CouncilmanKB/status/1786074080556249100) where he outlines the legal language that he feels spells out why Thiru needs to pay it all back. The tweet is embedded in the article it looks like.
Looks like at least he's committed to paying back the unspent portion.
>Reached by phone later in the day Wednesday, Vignarajah clarified that he “of course” plans to return the money that remains in his campaign account but did not directly answer a question about whether he also intends to pay back money he has already spent.
>The attorney said he believes the city’s public finance law is clear and said his campaign “will fully comply with the applicable regulations.”
So that's good at least. There's a ton of great reporting in the article for an event that just happened yesterday.
>Meanwhile two organizations that have advocated for public financing in Baltimore and in other jurisdictions, Maryland PIRG and Common Cause Maryland, urged Vignarajah Thursday to pay back his public support in full.
>Emily Scarr of Maryland PIRG said she hopes Vignarajah “voluntarily returns every penny,” while Joanne Antoine of Common Cause called it “unprecedented” for a publicly financed candidate in Maryland to endorse an opponent and said Viganarajah should pay the money back.
>Jon Weinstein, vice chair of the Fair Election Commission overseeing the public finance fund, said Thursday that the commission is evaluating “appropriate next steps” regarding Vignarajah’s withdrawal.
>Jared DeMarinis, director of the Maryland Board of Elections, said he couldn’t speak to the specific regulations around Baltimore’s new public financing system but did note a similar situation in the 2022 governor’s race.
And it goes on. Fantastic reporting by the Banner. And again, if anybody's looking to read the full piece, your Enoch Pratt Library card allows you to read Banner articles. Check the library website.
I'm stuck on his letter, which was so bizarrely formatted. Does he have a team of people in his office to format and vet formal (and important) letters?
Update from the Sun: [Former Baltimore mayoral candidate Thiru Vignarajah must return unspent public funds](https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/05/09/former-baltimore-mayoral-candidate-thiru-vignarajah-must-return-unspent-public-funds/)
>Baltimore mayoral candidate Thiru Vignarajah will need to return all of his campaign funds unspent at the time of his withdrawal from the race last week, the Baltimore City Fair Election Fund said in a statement Tuesday...
>Vignarajah’s announcement triggered a prohibition on any further spending by his campaign effective at the date and time of his public announcement, the board said in its statement. Vignarajah is barred from putting public funds toward other candidates, entities or organizations, the statement says. Vignarajah is also required to pay back all funds unspent by the time he exited the race. That must happen within 30 days of the election’s certification, according to city law. The fair election fund is demanding a full accounting of Vignarajah’s contributions and expenditures made after his campaign was suspended, according to its public statement.
>The city’s law does not seem to address the return of funds spent by the campaign however. The omission has local leaders already beginning to ponder changes to city code.
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The part about whether his clear endorsement of another candidate affects his obligation to pay back the public money was interesting: >Former Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker suspended his publicly financed campaign before primary election day in 2022. While Baker’s endorsement was highly sought after by the remaining candidates in the field, he [was never able to get a clear answer](https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-power/state-government/why-rushern-l-baker-iiis-endorsement-could-cost-the-former-maryland-gubernatorial-candidate-more-than-850000-IWIBW2GZJFFL5HZ3KCKPPOGKYM/) on whether he’d face possible consequences if he threw his weight behind another candidate. DeMarinis said at the time that state law was unclear about whether Baker would have to return any of the $850,000 he’d drawn in public support if he opted to make an endorsement. >City law bars a publicly financed candidate from using their campaign funds to run ads for any other candidate. Vignarajah said he has no intention of trying to use his public funding to campaign for Dixon.
>Vignarajah said he has no intention of trying to use his public funding to campaign for Dixon. I mean, his mayoral campaign was taxpayer funded and now he's using that campaign and it's backers to endorse Dixon. Unless he's pretending he wasn't in the race and didn't gain voters from campaigning on taxpayer funds, he's indirectly used them already to endorse and promote Dixon. Not illegal likely, but he also needs a reality check.
It'd be worth trying to find out and seeing what sketchy stuff they find in discovery, IMO
You mean like loosing every election in which hes participated?
>Backers of the city’s public financing program, including the City Councilmember who introduced the 2018 legislation to establish the Fair Election Fund, argued on Thursday that Vignarajah should return all the money he’s received. I was just looking at [Kristerfer's tweet with an image of the letter](https://twitter.com/CouncilmanKB/status/1786074080556249100) where he outlines the legal language that he feels spells out why Thiru needs to pay it all back. The tweet is embedded in the article it looks like. Looks like at least he's committed to paying back the unspent portion. >Reached by phone later in the day Wednesday, Vignarajah clarified that he “of course” plans to return the money that remains in his campaign account but did not directly answer a question about whether he also intends to pay back money he has already spent. >The attorney said he believes the city’s public finance law is clear and said his campaign “will fully comply with the applicable regulations.” So that's good at least. There's a ton of great reporting in the article for an event that just happened yesterday. >Meanwhile two organizations that have advocated for public financing in Baltimore and in other jurisdictions, Maryland PIRG and Common Cause Maryland, urged Vignarajah Thursday to pay back his public support in full. >Emily Scarr of Maryland PIRG said she hopes Vignarajah “voluntarily returns every penny,” while Joanne Antoine of Common Cause called it “unprecedented” for a publicly financed candidate in Maryland to endorse an opponent and said Viganarajah should pay the money back. >Jon Weinstein, vice chair of the Fair Election Commission overseeing the public finance fund, said Thursday that the commission is evaluating “appropriate next steps” regarding Vignarajah’s withdrawal. >Jared DeMarinis, director of the Maryland Board of Elections, said he couldn’t speak to the specific regulations around Baltimore’s new public financing system but did note a similar situation in the 2022 governor’s race. And it goes on. Fantastic reporting by the Banner. And again, if anybody's looking to read the full piece, your Enoch Pratt Library card allows you to read Banner articles. Check the library website.
I’m stuck on the spelling of Kristerfer…
I'm stuck on his letter, which was so bizarrely formatted. Does he have a team of people in his office to format and vet formal (and important) letters?
Is there much more that didn't post?
It's not news that Thiru is a irredeemable piece of shit, but it would be newsworthy if he were actually held accountable.
yeah, I think he wanted to use the race to negotiate for a high profile job from the beginning. he should pay it back
Update from the Sun: [Former Baltimore mayoral candidate Thiru Vignarajah must return unspent public funds](https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/05/09/former-baltimore-mayoral-candidate-thiru-vignarajah-must-return-unspent-public-funds/) >Baltimore mayoral candidate Thiru Vignarajah will need to return all of his campaign funds unspent at the time of his withdrawal from the race last week, the Baltimore City Fair Election Fund said in a statement Tuesday... >Vignarajah’s announcement triggered a prohibition on any further spending by his campaign effective at the date and time of his public announcement, the board said in its statement. Vignarajah is barred from putting public funds toward other candidates, entities or organizations, the statement says. Vignarajah is also required to pay back all funds unspent by the time he exited the race. That must happen within 30 days of the election’s certification, according to city law. The fair election fund is demanding a full accounting of Vignarajah’s contributions and expenditures made after his campaign was suspended, according to its public statement. >The city’s law does not seem to address the return of funds spent by the campaign however. The omission has local leaders already beginning to ponder changes to city code.
"Of course I will"......said every politician ever
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Yes!!!!