Gabrieli to refuse public funds, ensuring costly 3-way race

Christopher Gabrieli announced yesterday he will decline public funds for his campaign for governor, guaranteeing an expensive three-way race for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

Gabrieli's announcement cleared the way for his rivals, Deval Patrick and Thomas F. Reilly, to split about $750,000 available in a special state fund to bolster their campaign war chests. Patrick's campaign said it filed its intent to opt in for public financing yesterday. Reilly's campaign said it would do the same before today's 5 p.m. deadline.

Because at least one candidate is not participating, the recipients will not be bound by a statutory spending cap of $1.5 million in the campaign to the Sept. 19 primary. Gabrieli must file a statement by Friday of a self-imposed cap, which, under the law, will become a spending limit on all three candidates.

A wealthy venture capitalist who has spent at least $2.6 million of his own money since entering the campaign April 6, Gabrieli issued a statement saying that he supports public funding, but that ``these laws were not designed for any of the current candidates for governor, all who have either vast personal wealth or huge campaign war chests. It seems to me there are better uses of taxpayer dollars."

Contrary to Gabrieli's statement, however, the funds are in a restricted account, funded by a voluntary $1 checkoff on annual state income tax returns, and cannot be used for any other purpose, according to Denis Kennedy, spokesman for the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance.

Gabrieli does not dedicate $1 of his state taxes to the fund, said his spokesman, Dan Cence.

Patrick's spokesman, Richard Chacón, disputed Gabrieli's suggestion that the fund is designed only to assist candidates with limited ability to raise funds. ``These funds come from a voluntary decision by Massachusetts taxpayers who want spending limits for campaigns," he said. ``We respect that public request."

Patrick designates $1 of his state income taxes to the fund, according to Chacón. Reilly checked off $1 for the campaign fund on tax returns, which he has released.

Because Reilly and Patrick are tapping into the fund, it will wipe out funding for the primary cycle, Kennedy said, leaving nothing for the three Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor or the pair in the Democratic race for secretary of state.

Kennedy said about 7 1/2 percent of taxpayers checked off the public funding box on their 2004 tax return, the lowest rate in 12 years. The $1 checkoff generates about $375,000 a year for the fund, he said.