Shall the City provide public financing to candidates for the Board of Supervisors, limit contributions to independent committees, and limit the overall amount a person or group may contribute to all City candidates and political committees?
Proposition O would provide public financing for qualified candidates running for supervisor as an incentive to remain within voluntary spending limits. It would limit the total contributions that any individual may make to candidates or committees to $500 ($250 in a run-off election) times the number of vacant city offices. It would limit the amount of money an individual may loan his/her own campaign to $15,000. It would require additional disclosure for committees that make
independent expenditures on behalf of candidates.
Should the proposed ordinance be adopted, in my opinion, it would result in costs of up to $1.6 million annually for direct contributions to eligible Board of Supervisors candidates, auditing and administration of the program.
- Summary of Arguments FOR Proposition O:
- Passage of this proposition would allow qualified candidates for supervisor with limited financial means to get their message out to voters.
Proposition O would cost only $2 per resident per year.
This proposition would level the playing field between incumbents and challengers.
Proposition O would reduce the influence of special interest money and would stop wealthy candidates from making unlimited loans to their own campaigns.
- Summary of Arguments AGAINST Proposition O:
- Proposition O would spend money on political candidates that could be spent for other things.
With district elections, candidates do not have a problem getting their message out due to lack of funds.
Proposition O would limit free speech as guaranteed by the First Amendment.
The passage of proposition O would waste City resources by having to defend the initiative from court
challenges.
Proposition O would constitute an inappropriate expenditure of public funds.
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Nonpartisan Information
League of Women Voters
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