Supporters of Independent Anthony Pollina can break out their checkbooks as U.S. District Court Judge William Sessions ruled Wednesday that the candidate could accept contributions of up to $2,000. 

Session's decision reverses the demands of Vermont's Secretary of State Deborah Markowitz and Attorney General William Sorrell that Pollina must return the donations form 35 contributors that topped $1,000. Five donors filed a petition against the state's original ruling.

Petitioners on behalf of Pollina argued that Markowitz's and Sorrell's actions abridged their First Amendment rights to free speech, and that under Vermont's 1981 finance law, they could contribute up to $2,000 in support of Pollina's gubernatorial campaign. They requested an injunction preventing the state from forcing Pollina to return the extra money.

The state argued that because Pollina had not officially filed as a Progressive candidate, but as an independent, he was not a major party candidate.  

Sessions refuted the state's claims, determining that under [img_assist|nid=1769|title=Gubernatorial candidate Anthony Pollina|desc=|link=none|align=center|width=387|height=290]Vermont state law, Pollina's actions while running as a member of the Progressive Party sufficiently qualified him to be considered a candidate of that party, even though he officially campaigns as an independent.   

The U.S. District Court judge also ruled that because state campaign finance law does not distinguish between contributions for the primary or general elections, his ability to accept contributions up to $2,000 does not change, now that he is an independent.

Pollina issued the following statement Wednesday evening: "We're pleased that the judge agreed with us and pointed out that the Secretary of State's action made no sense. We were singled out for a clearly partisan attack at a time when the economy is falling apart and people are out of work, we stuck with the real issues and I'm glad Vermonters stuck with us. We gained major endorsements and went up in the polls, proving again that Vermonters don't fall for negative politics."