March 5, 2003



CONTACT:
Angela Jones, Public Information Officer
City of Richmond / City Manager's Office
(510) 621-1230
 

COUNCIL APPROVES MATCHING PUBLIC FUNDING PROGRAM FOR LOCAL ELECTION CAMPAIGNS

Disbursement of matching funds would be subject to approval by the Finance Committee
 

Richmond City Council Members voted on March 4, 2003 to adopt an amendment to an ordinance that will allow Richmond Mayor and City Council candidates to request matching public funds for their election campaigns. The motion authored by Council Member Rogers passed by a vote of 5-3. Mayor Anderson and Council Members Penn and Belcher voted against the motion. Council Member Bell was absent.

The purpose of the ordinance is to protect candidates from huge, unlimited independent expenditure campaigns and to encourage candidates to run who do not have access to large campaign contributions or personal wealth.

In order to be approved to receive public matching funds, Mayor and City Council candidates must file a Public Funding Request with the City Clerk; be certified to appear on the ballot for the election for which matching funds are sought; and be opposed by at least one other certified candidate for the same office.

According to the ordinance, matchable contributions are those disclosed on the candidate's regular campaign disclosure statement required by the State of California and the City of Richmond. The matching funds limit per candidate is $25,000 per election.

The cities of Oakland, San Francisco, Long Beach and Los Angeles have matching public funds programs. Council Member Rogers said he introduced the ordinance amendment because of concerns that representation on the City Council is based on who has money to finance their campaigns.

Mayor Anderson and Council Member Belcher wanted the matter to be put before the voters. Council Members Penn and Viramontes expressed concern about whether funds would available in 2004 to provide public matching funds for local election campaigns. The ordinance provides for the matching funds program to become effective July 1, 2004 for the November 2004 election. However, funding for the program is left to the discretion of the City Manager and requires the approval of the City Council.