As promised, I’m breaking down the key components of the county’s proposed campaign oversight changes, which watchdog Shirley Grindle worked out with Supervisor John Moorlach’s chief of staff, Mario Mainero.

First is a summary of the key proposed changes to the county’s TINCUP ordinance governing campaign finance for county candidates. Grindle wrote the original too. Click below to read the summary.

– Martin Wisckol

The proposed revision would have to be put on the ballot by supervisors and be approved by voters. Grindle is hoping it will be on the June ballot. She walked me through the changes:

1. Candidates will be required to file campaign finance disclosures electronically. I suspect and hope that this will translate to quicker and easier online access to those documents.

2. There was previously a provision that and husband and wife’s combined contribution could not exceed the limit for an single individual’s donation (currently $1,600). That has been found unconstitutional and has not been enforced — and has been removed in the revision.

3. No longer will people who spend $1000 or more on an independent expenditure be required to notify effected candidates. Instead, they’ll notify the proposed county Fair Campaign Practices Commission.

4. The proposal would allow candidates to set up a legal defense fund. It could be used only for recounts and other election challenges. Campaign contribution limits would apply.

5. There’s a provision to help candidates pay off past campaign debt. It would allow those who had not contributed the maximum amount in a past election to retroactively contribute up to that amount, so long as the money goes toward campaign debt accrued for the appropriate election period.

6. There are proposed rules for transfering funds from a candidate’s past campaign account for a different office.

7. There is a new section outlining extensions of credit for past campaign debt.

8. Candidates who do not properly address problems with their disclosures within 30 days of being notified that there’s a problem will by fined $25 for each day they are delinquent. Candidates may not use campaign funds to pay the fines. Grindle tells me that she has removed this stricken provision, because she thinks state law preempts it.

– Martin Wisckol

Posted in: Supervisors • Ethics |

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