About FCP
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. Eleven 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.
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 2011-2012 Term
President: Rev. Maurice Drown, Interfaith 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: Faith Weldon, League of Women Voters of Schenectady County
Coordination Team: Rev. Maurice Drown, Aimee Allaud, Michael Foster, Faith Weldon
Board of Directors
Interfaith Alliance of New York State, Capital Region
Rev. Maurice Drown
Barry Leibson
Khalid Bhatti
Denia Van Houter
LWV Albany County
Aimee Allaud
LWV Rensselaer County
Lorrie Smith
George O’Connor
LWV Saratoga County
Barbara Murphy
Beverly LaBarge
LWV Schenectady County
Julie Burgess
Faith Weldon
