Council to Hear Election Reform Plan

The wait is over.

After months of meetings and anticipation, the city’s campaign finance reform committee will present a proposed ordinance and other reform recommendations to the City Council on Tuesday.

Council members expressed cautious support of the campaign finance ordinance and its proposed $250 limit on contributions despite concerns that it does not limit overall spending, which is a constitutionally protected form of free speech.

“The ordinance itself is not a bad deal,” said Councilwoman Judy Lazar. “I have no problem with a $250 limit.”

Mayor Mike Markey said he also thinks the ordinance, overall, is workable. But the proposed law has a blind spot, he said.

“I think true campaign finance reform is limiting how much anyone can spend,” he said. “Unfortunately, that’s something that none of us can control.”

If approved, the campaign reform measure would take effect in 30 days and would apply to this November’s City Council elections, when three seats are up for grabs. It appears likely that incumbents Lazar, Elois Zeanah and Andy Fox will run again, but candidates are not required to file until next month.

The ordinance was crafted during a series of meetings by citizens: a homeowners association activist, a scientist, a tax preparer, a homemaker, a social worker and others, with the assistance of attorney Craig Steele, who specializes in election law.

Aiming to lessen the influence of money in politics, the 16-member panel wrote a proposed campaign finance ordinance that includes the following components:

* A strict $250 contribution limit; the state has no contribution limits after a judge struck down Proposition 208.

* A fund-raising period that begins six months before election day and ends 90 days after; state law allows some surplus funds to carry over into future races.

* A ban on anonymous and cash contributions of more than $25; this goes beyond the state’s $100 limit.

* An aggregate limit for local races, which does not exist in state law. No individual could contribute more money than $250 multiplied for each open seat plus up to $250 for independent committees. For example, no one could contribute more than $1,000 this November.

The committee also made some recommendations for further study, apart from the ordinance. The suggestions are designed to help improve the electoral process in this politically fractured city. They include the creation of an ethics commission, a directly elected mayor, term limits and free television time for candidates.

Although it appears likely the ordinance will pass muster Tuesday, other proposals may not fare as well. Several council members say they are skeptical of some of the other recommendations.

Both Lazar and Markey weighed in against the ethics commission, questioning its cost and necessity, and several council members in the past have voiced opposition to term limits.

Jim Bruno, co-chair of the campaign finance reform committee, said the ethics commission would serve an educational function and would help define standards of conduct in campaigns.

“We need to be able to talk openly about ethics and values in politics,” he said. “If you don’t take the first step and nothing is done, nothing will happen.”