Who We Are
Fair Campaign Practices for the Capital Region, Inc. (FCP) was
founded in 1999 by the League of Women Voters of Albany, Rensselaer,
Saratoga, and Schenectady Counties and the Interfaith Alliance of
New York State, Capital Region. Seven years ago, FCP developed a
Fair Campaign Pledge and established procedures to accept candidates’
charges of unfair campaign practices within the Capital District.
A pool of 32 respected individuals from the four county region
is selected to hear complaints. These community representatives
serve on Hearing Panels that determine the validity of complaints.
In order to ensure a balanced, fair process for all sides, the local
chairs of all the recognized political parties, or their designees,
automatically become ex officio members of the FCP Hearing Panel
and attend hearings.
After a hearing is held and a decision is made by the hearing panel,
the decision is made known to the candidates involved and to the
media so that the media can inform the voting public.
FCP was based on a similar organization that was established in
Westchester County in New York State.
View our Operation
Manual.
Purpose
FCP carries out its purpose by:
• Accepting written complaints from candidates about alleged
unfair campaign practices.
• Holding hearings to examine questionable campaign practices.
• Determining whether the particular campaign practice violates
its Statement of Principles (see Candidate
Manual).
• Releasing its findings to inform the press and the general
public.
• Using the power of public opinion to encourage candidates
to campaign honestly and fairly.
• Expanding the political debate by more fully informing the
electorate of unfair campaign practices.
Please note that FCP:
• Does not seek to encroach upon First Amendment rights.
• Sits neither as a censor of political discussion nor as
a body to enforce election law or to make legal decisions.
• Has no power to compel anyone to stop doing what it has
found to be unfair.
• Believes that releasing its findings informs the public
and that an informed public can make better decisions.
Officers for 2009-2010 Terms
President: Rev. Maurice Drown, Alliance of New York State, Capital Region
Vice President: Aimee Allaud, League of Women Voters
of Albany County
Treasurer: Julie Burgess, League of Women Voters
of Schenectady County
Secretary: Barbara Thomas, League of Women Voters
of Saratoga County
Coordination Team: Rev. Maurice Drown, Aimee Allaud, Barbara Thomas, Joan Elliot
Board of Directors:
Interfaith Alliance of New York State, Capital Region:
Rev. Maurice Drown
Dr. Khalid Bhatti
Harriet Warnock-Graham
Rev. James E.F. Lawrence
Aimee Allaud
Katie Henrikson
LWV Rensselaer County:
Lorrie Smith
Jill Nagy
LWV Saratoga County:
Barbara Thomas
Therese Lowenthal
LWV Schenectady County:
Julie Burgess
Joan Elliott
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