Ordinance 2010-349 - Laserfiche WebLink

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3) CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM The EIA Task Force took notice of state laws and local ordinances that impose restraints against special classes of campaign contributors and fundraisers who regularly interact with government.3 Vendors, lobbyists and real estate developers are generally invested in the affairs of local government and many also understand the benefit of becoming active in the political campaigns of individuals running for office. The recommendations endeavor to accomplish two objectives: 1) Prohibit contributions from a class of contributors and fundraisers who have a direct financial interest in the actions of the public officials whom they help elect and 2) Prohibit the candidates from accepting campaign contributions or other forms of assistance from the abovementioned parties. The public needs assurances that local elected officials will not favor special interests that have assisted them in their bid to gain elective office at the expense of others who may have chosen not to offer the same level or type of support. 1. No vendor shall give a campaign contribution directly or indirectly to a candidate or to the campaign committee of a candidate. A vendor who violates this provision shall be disqualified from serving as vendor for a period of 12 months. No real estate developer shall give a campaign contribution directly or indirectly to a candidate or to the campaign committee of a candidate and a real estate developer may not make contribution within 12 months after the termination of its status as a real estate developer. Violations of this section shall subject the real estate developer to a fine. Rationale: If a ban on contributions from vendors and real estate developer is to have any meaning, the vendors/real estate developers must face serious consequences for violating this ban. Disqualification of the vendor for a limited period of time accomplishes this purpose, as does imposing a substantial fine on a real estate developer. Conditions may exist for limited waiver. 2. No candidate or campaign committee of a candidate shall deposit into the candidate's campaign account any contribution directly or indirectly from a vendor, lobbyist or real estate developer. Violations of this section shall subject the candidate to a fine. 3 Cal. Gov. Code Section 85702 (2008); KRS Section 6.811 (6) (2007) and S.c. Code Section 2-17-80 (A) (2007) have banned lobbyists from contributing to the campaigns of whom they may lobby at all times. S.c. Code Section 8-13-1342 (2007) bans any party or corporation awarded a no-bid contract with the state or any of its political subdivisions from contributing to a public official who was in a position to act on the contract award. The states of Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Oregon, Texas and Virginia have banned contributions from licensees such as gambling or casino licensees, lottery vendors and contractors and horse racing organizations. Closer to home, the City of Miami Beach enacted Sections 2-487 to 490 in 2003, amended in 2005, banning contributions from lobbyists, contractors and real estate developers. Lastly, Miami-Dade County implemented a ban on all corporate contributions. (See Ord. No. 98-183, later repealed by Ord. No. 05-214) 16