Motil City Council Camapign Finance Testimony
These contribution limits do nothing to even slightly level the playing field for citizens challenging major party endorsed candidates and incumbent office holders. Columbus voters need comprehensive campaign finance/election law solutions that are thought out with honest intentions that will address a truly representative people’s government. And that can only be rightfully accomplished through public hearings and not by two City Council readings.
As many of us know, contributions can and will be funneled into and through the Franklin County Democratic Party, ODP and into incumbent and endorsed candidate’s campaigns, thus circumventing the proposed campaign finance reform legislation. One only needs to look at our illustrious mayor and how federal court documents showed that a $20,000 campaign contribution from red light camera vendor Redflex was secured by former lobbyist John Raphael, and then given to the Ohio Democratic party and sent to Mayor Ginther’s campaign committee.
The proposed limits ($8,307 and $32,231) are still too high. Over the last 7 years single contribution limits have risen by nearly $4,000 ($12,707 - $16,615) due to automatic increases based on CPI inflation rates. Single contribution limits should be capped. In-Kind contributions should mirror those of Cincinnati that places a $1,100 individual limit, $2,700 from PAC’s and $10,500 from political parties.
23 years ago, Council created a nine-member task force to make recommendations on campaign finance reforms. They recommended a $1,000 per person limit for auditor, city attorney and council candidates. A $10,000 maximum carry over for municipal candidates other than the mayor which was set at $20,000. And candidates and their campaign committees would be prohibited from giving to other municipal candidates. Bold yet reasonable recommendations. But of course, then Mayor Coleman and council members rejected the recommendations due to their overwhelming financial backing from developers, labor, and business community. Along with having to spend significantly more time raising money.
There’s been much talk about the just over $350,000 of combined In-Kind contributions from Council members Doran’s, Remy and Hardin to council member Tiara Ross’s campaign that helped benefit her victory last November. The practice of handing out unlimited In-Kind contributions has been taking place for some time. During former city council woman Priscilla Tysons 2017 Council race, a combined $173,000 of In-Kind contributions were given to her by then Councilman Hardin and Mitchel Brown. The practice of municipal campaign committees giving to one another clearly demonstrates the obvious reality of indebtedness from one candidate to another.
In closing, as part of this legislations Code Change Fact Sheet document, it states, “This code change was included as part of a package of broader governmental and elections reform discussions with representatives of the Our City Our Say Coalition.” This campaign finance reform legislation is being implemented based on conversations with a handful of people from a specific organization without input from the city as a whole.
We need reforms such as prohibiting the solicitation or acceptance of campaign contributions from all vendors, developers and other persons or groups who have a financial interest in city business while such business is pending before city council.
Create a public campaign financing program similar to that of Austin, Denver, LA, Portland, Seattle, and dozens of other cities.
Allow the use of taxpayer paid Columbus Government TV for candidates use and to air the League of Women Voters and other public candidate forums. By adding these types of reforms and others, one could then accurately boast of “historic” legislation. And only then can the For Sale sign at City Hall begin to diminish. I respectfully request that you table this legislation and hold public hearings on this issue.