Dave Yaccarino, Democratic candidate for state representative in Connecticut’s 99th District (East Haven), announced June 26 that his campaign was approved for public financing by the State Elections Enforcement Commission. The Citizens Election Program (CEP) provides a grant to candidates that raise enough small donations from residents of the towns they seek to represent.

“It’s a model for campaign finance reform for other state legislatures and for Washington,” Yaccarino said. “After a candidate meets the goals for the grant, we’re done raising money, which means we can spend more time talking with voters and listening to their concerns.”

State representative candidates must raise $5,300 and at least 150 donations needed to come from East Haven residents. Despite the unprecedented challenges to the campaign presented by the COVID-19 crisis, Yaccarino raised the funds necessary for the CEP grant through the enthusiastic support of the people of East Haven.

“My day job as a scientist has really ramped up with our focus on increasing COVID-19 test capacity. But I worked hard every day to make phone calls and arrange safe donation pickups to meet our goals,” Yaccarino said. “I’m so grateful for the steady support that we’ve received from the East Haven community.”

The campaign announced that 76 percent of the 217 donations were from East Haven residents.

Yaccarino commented, “Even though I grew up in North Haven, our campaign is focused on universal working-class issues that have really resonated with East Haven residents. I connected with a lot of new people over the phone about health care costs or what it’s like to go through a layoff. Sometimes they would offer to donate before I even asked and that was a great feeling. That’s when it felt like we are building a campaign that will make East Haven proud.”