Paul S. Ryan took on the role of executive director of the New York City Campaign Finance Board in February. This came after the previous executive director resigned amid a cloud of dysfunction. Just 10 months before the mayor was federally indicted on corruption charges related to the CFB's matching funds program, Ryan inherited an organization in a leadership crisis.

Why the Program is the Best in the Country

Ryan started studying the program more than 20 years ago, right after law school. Working at the Center for Governmental Studies, he spent the first two years analyzing the effectiveness of public financing programs across the country. One of the key features of New York City's program is its continuous evaluation requirement. The board is mandated to publish two reports every couple of years assessing the program's performance, including voter analysis and post-election reports. Ryan testified at a hearing 20 years ago while researching and writing a report. This commitment to constant self-evaluation and evolution has led to an increase in the matching funds rate. From 1 to 1 in the late 80s, it rose to 6 to 1 a decade ago and further increased to 8 to 1 six years ago. Working in this environment is truly exciting.

Ryan firmly believes that the program is the best in the country for small donor democracy. The continuous improvement and adaptation make it a model that promotes democratic participation and fairness in fundraising.

Scrutiny and the Agency's Role

Ryan has only been in his position for 10 months, so he can't make a direct comparison of the current level of scrutiny. However, he emphasizes that public financing programs are always under scrutiny, whether at the local or federal level. The CFB takes its responsibility of administering programs, including the matching funds program, very seriously. It ensures that all actions are nonpartisan, fair, and protect taxpayers' resources. Ryan is proud of the agency's work and believes that the scrutiny is warranted. It is not just in this election year or due to one candidate but because of the important job the agency is tasked with doing.

The agency's independence is a crucial aspect that allows it to fulfill its duties without being influenced by political considerations. Since Ryan joined, no decisions have been affected by politics, and the board remains committed to its mission.

CFB's Ruling on Mayor Adams' Campaign

On December 17, the CFB denied matching funds to Mayor Eric Adams' 2025 reelection campaign based on possible illegal conduct. Chair Frederick Schaffer explained that there was public interest in the matter, leading to the statement. Ryan has nothing to add to the board's decision, which was based on the available facts and information.

The CFB's approach to this decision was business as usual. It applied the law to all candidates, and yesterday, 94 candidates did not establish their eligibility for public funds, while 19 did. This is a common occurrence early in the process, and there was nothing extraordinary about the board's decisions.

Interaction with Campaigns and Reminders

Each campaign has a liaison in the Candidate Services Unit, which is part of the Candidate Guidance and Policy Division. There is regular contact and communication with campaigns, and a lot of information is available on the website. The rules have been amended, and now every candidate and treasurer must go through training. If a treasurer is replaced during the campaign, the new treasurer also has to complete the training. The candidate services team communicates regularly with reminders and is available to answer questions by phone.

The numerous requirements ensure that campaigns comply with the rules and laws. Those 94 candidates who were not eligible yesterday did not meet the threshold, such as failing to raise the required number of contributions or filing necessary paperwork on time. The agency is committed to enforcing the rules and holding campaigns accountable.

Changing the Training Requirement

The decision to require candidates themselves to attend training was made to strengthen the board's ability to hold campaigns and treasurers accountable in case of violations. In the enforcement context, it is important to ensure that campaigns are aware of their obligations. By making candidates attend training, the board aims to remove the excuse of "I didn't know" in case of noncompliance. Going forward, candidates will be held responsible for being informed about the requirements and fulfilling them.

This change reflects the board's commitment to maintaining the integrity of the matching funds program and ensuring that all participants are aware of their responsibilities.