Greenburgh Campaign Finance Commission
PUBLIC FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE
-
Voluntary local campaign finance reforms should be adopted that include increased disclosure of campaign contributions, lower contribution limits, limited restrictions on the source of contributions, and mandatory debate provisions
State law preempts mandatory local campaign contribution regulation. Therefore, compliance must be voluntary. The subcommittee recommends the following voluntary reforms be pursued:
-
Disclosure by participating candidates should be more frequent and more descriptive than state law requires, and include the contributor’s name, residence, business address, and name of employer.
-
To avoid any appearance of corruption or undue influence, while not substantially disadvantaging participants, participating candidates should limit individual contributions for each election-- the primary election and the general election. Currently, approximately $1000 is permitted for each election.
-
Participating candidates should pledge not to accept "interested" contributions (such as from developers doing business before the town’s boards).
-
Participating candidates should be required to participate in a minimum number of debates held using League of Women Voters’ debate guidelines.
-
Participants in local campaign reform measures should be given significantly increased cable access time as an incentive to participate, as recommended by the cable subcommittee
Incentives are generally offered to encourage candidates to voluntarily participate.
Cable access, as proposed by the cable subcommittee, should be used as the primary or sole incentive for candidate participation at the present time.
To date, the subcommittee has not identified a desire by town residents to partially or wholly finance the campaigns of local candidates with taxpayer funds. Therefore, the proposed cable access incentive is a reasonable alternative.
-
A Fair Campaign Practices Commission should be created
The members should be nominated and appointed in a manner that assures the commission will be non-partisan or bipartisan. The commission should ensure participating candidates comply with any local reform measures adopted and equitably receive any incentives offered.
-
Additional public comment should be solicited regarding possible support for the following taxpayer-financed incentives which are currently not recommended by the subcommittee:
Matching funds: participating candidates could receive a 2-1 match for contributions of $100 or less; the actual ratio and the threshold amount would have to be established.
Block grants: participating candidates could receive a lump sum contribution from the town of 25-50 percent of any spending limit imposed; the actual percentage would have to be established.
Free or reduced-cost services (other than cable television): the cost of a certain number of candidates’ mailings could be reimbursed, local voter guides with free space for each candidate could be provided, etc., or
A mix of any/all of the above