Connecticut's State Elections Enforcement Commission, which administers the state's public financing for campaigns system, announced today that both candidates in the special election in the 113th Assembly District will be participating in the maiden voyage of the Citizens' Election Program.
 (http://www.ct.gov/seec/lib/seec/2007_special_election_cep_9_25_07.pdf)

Although the Citizens' Election Program officially came online in Connecticut in January, the Oct. 9 special election will be the first election where candidates were eligible to participate. Following their respective nominations, both candidates indicated that they both would try to qualify for the $18,750 grant by raising $3,750 in small contributions ($5 to $100). The Republican candidate Jason Perillo officially qualified on Sept. 17, and today his opponent, Democrat James Orazietti, got word he will be receiving an election grant as well.

The real winners here are the voters of 113th district. Not only will they be seeing more of their candidates, who won't be saddled with the endless chase for political dollars, they'll be able to cast their votes for a candidate they can be sure won't be swayed by political contributions from the legions of special interests that flock to the State Capitol in Hartford.