Council Candidates Sue Campaign Finance Board

New York, NY —

First-time City Council candidates have filed a lawsuit against the Campaign Finance Board. They say after the City Council extended term limits, the board is giving an unfair advantage to City Council incumbents by letting them keep the money they raised to run for higher office.

SIMON: So it gives sort of a pass to those incumbents who had been seeking higher office and they now decide to run for re-election.

REPORTER: That's plaintiff Joanne Simon, who's running for Brooklyn Councilman David Yassky's seat. She says she can't raise anywhere near the funds he raised last year in his bid for city comptroller - money he can now use to run for re-election to his council seat, should he choose to do that.

The Campaign Finance Board says it wants to give incumbents an incentive to opt in to the campaign finance system. A spokesman says the board is reviewing the lawsuit.