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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-15-2016 Item 11, RippnerCOUNCIL MEETING: o-1, — %5 -Lok 6 ITEM NO.: NOV 3 0 n15 November 24, 2015 Mayor Jan Marx City of San Luis Obispo Re: Integrity in Elections Ordinance Dear Mayor Marx, My wife and I have made our home on the Central Coast for 30 years. We are interested, well- informed and concerned citizens. For the past few years we have become deeply concerned about the increasing corruptive influence of special interest money in our political process. Out of my concern over this increasing problem, I work with a local group, Citizens Congress. The main focus of this group is to curtail and end the corruptive influence of special interest money in all of our elections and, most certainly, in our local ones. In order to do that, our local jurisdic- tions need to pass public financing reforms, as City of Seattle and the State of Maine have re- cently done. While our local elections do not seem, as yet, to have a large issue with Super Pacs, the prob- ability of these entering into our local political process grows with each election cycle. There- fore, it seems prudent to create a defense against the corrupting influence of Super Pac money before it besets our cities and county. In that regard, the City of San Luis Obispo has an oppor- tunity to be a model for the county and even the state by adopting the Integrity in Elections Or- dinance. This Ordinance, consisting of public financing, disclosure and a citizens ethics panel, will promote honesty and fairness in local elections by removing the need for candidates to con- stantly seek support from our wealthiest citizens for the candidacies, or worse, from Super Pacs created by out -of -area interests. Funding for this ordinance from the City's General Fund would amount to .5% of the City's over- all budget during the election cycle. I know there are many needs and projects which compete for this tax money, however, preserving free and fair elections is certainly one of those. I feel, as do the majority of our citizens, that our democracy has been truly threatened by the Supreme Court's decision on Citizens United and setting local policy on funding of elections is the only real option open to us to lessen the damage of this judicial ruling. Recently I attended a program of a local group, People of Faith for Justice. This program was a discussion responding to the Pope's message regarding climate change, destruction of our en- vironment, and wealth inequality. Representatives of different faiths were present and endorsed whole heartily the Pope's message. During the comment period, I pointed out that until we be- gin to remove the corrupting influence of money and reform a political system that is currently beholden to a few billionaires and large corporations none of these laudable goals will be met. If we do not get money out of our political system, we will not be able to make the changes we need because our elected representatives are literally held hostage by their big funders. The Integrity in Elections Ordinance offers a way to begin to reclaim our democracy. It would encourage greater voter participation by taking the power of the purse away from the wealthy and putting it, equally, in the hands of all the voters in the city. This, combined with increased transparency and an ethics panel are the primary goals of this ordinance In 2012, you lead the city in passing a resolution to overturn Citizens United. The city has enacted many progressive ideals under your leadership. I sincerely hope this ordinance will be counted among them. Thank you. Very truly yours i Thomas F. Jppner, D. 6448 Squire Court San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 For additional information on how local governments are impacted by big money, please see the following links: http://www. hffingtQopg$t.com/entry/2015-el!acfigns--pac 5633diB7 https://www.riverheadlocal.com/2015/11/02/election-1 5-campaign-cash-soars-to-new-heights-in- riverh ead-town- races http://Www.nmpolitics.netfindex/2015/11 /super- pac-continues-barrage-of-negative-attacks-in-las- cruces/