Wolff ineligible for public campaign funding

Kevin Wolff surprised many when he announced he had filed for public campaign financing under the town of Chapel Hill's new "Voter-Owned Election" program.

Wolff has been a harsh critic of the voluntary program, which provides qualifying mayoral candidates up to $13,000 in public money.

"In one sense, I guess it's an attempt to keep the playing field level," he explained last month." It's my tax dollars that are going to be used, and I think I'm entitled to it as much as anybody else. It doesn't change my position that I oppose the current language of the voter owned election, which I call public financing."

But Wolff will not be eligible for any public money, a state Board of Elections official said today. Wolff loaned his campaign $10,000, surpassing the maximum $6,000 candidates for mayor may raise if they want to receive public funds.

"Kevin Wolff is no longer considered to be a participating candidate," said Amy Strange, compliance specialist. "Kevin Wolff, based on the loan he made himself, has made himself ineligible for the Voter Owned Election campaign financing."