Democrat George C. Jepsen announced this morning he has raised the preliminary funding necessary to qualify for a $750,000 grant from the state’s Citizens Election Program to support his bid for attorney general.
The former state party chairman and former state Senate majority leader submitted records today at State Elections Enforcement Commission headquarters showing he raised more than $75,000 in amounts of $100 or less from more than 1,300 individuals.
Public financing “is the key to keeping special interest money out of politics,” Jepsen told reporters outside of SEEC headquarters on Trinity Street immediately after his filing.
Jepsen is unopposed for the Democratic nomination, and will face the winner of the GOP primary between Avon lawyer Martha Dean and Ross Garber of Glastonbury, former chief legal counsel to the governor’s office under John G. Rowland. Both Republican candidates have said they would not use public funds to support their candidacies.
“I think that they would be unwise to be critical of those in public financing,” Jepsen added. The public supports the program. The public supports keeping special interest money out of politics.”