Two weeks after the mayor announced he’s opting out of the city’s public campaign financing program, one lawmaker is working to let aldermanic candidates opt in.
Thomas MacMillan File Photo
At Tuesday evening’s meeting of the Board of Aldermen, West Rock Alderman Darnell Goldson (pictured) submitted a proposed ordinance amendment that would incorporate aldermanic candidates in the city public financing program. That program, the Democracy Fund, doles out dollars to mayoral candidates who reach a minimum threshold of popular support.
Goldson’s proposal is headed to committee ahead of a vote by the full Board of Aldermen.
The fund was created by Mayor John DeStefano and aldermanic supporters including Carl Goldfield and Jorge Perez. After running with public financing money in 2007 and 2009, the mayor has this year decided to forgo public dollars as he seeks a record tenth term in office. The mayor said that process has proved to be more trouble than it’s worth. Read more about that here and about the mayor’s fundraising here. No one else has qualified for public money.
While he has been its only participant, the mayor has also run afoul of the Democracy Fund. It fined him $500 for late filings and also criticized him for “flying in the face of” the spirit of the clean elections law by moving cash into a political action committee to support aldermanic candidates.
That movement of money inspired Goldson to draft his ordinance amendment. In Goldson’s 2009 campaign to become Ward 30’s alderman, his opponent, Carlton Staggers, benefited from funds funneled from the mayor’s campaign. Goldson said he wants to ensure that other candidates have the resources to counterbalance moves like that.
That’s “an even bigger issue now that the mayor’s opted out,” Goldson said. The mayor will now be able to move campaign dollars around without the scrutiny of the Democracy Fund, Goldson said. “Now he’s clearly going to put money out to aldermanic races.”
Goldson said the fund would work for aldermanic races the same way it works for the mayoral race. Candidates would raise a certain amount of money and then receive public funds, with additional installments if their opponents raise more money.
Goldson said he doesn’t know how much money it would cost to expand the fund to aldermanic races, or where specifically the money would come from. He said that will require discussion as the proposal moves forward.
The fund does have money left over, Goldson said.
Goldson, who is known for saying no to new city expenditures, acknowledged that his latest proposal may seem out of character, since it would cost new money. But, he said, he’s always felt that elections require money to conduct properly. “We can’t skimp on that, as we saw in Bridgeport.”
After Tuesday’s meeting, several aldermen voiced support for the proposal.
“I am a huge advocate of public financing,” said Yale Alderman Mike Jones. He cited his positive experience last year as the campaign manager for former East Rock Alderman Roland Lemar’s successful bid for a state General Assembly seat. Lemar participated in the state’s public financing program and benefited from an initial grant and several matching funds grants to match his opponent’s spending.
Jones said the money already set aside for the fund could last a couple of years.
Aldermen Michael Smart and Jacqueline James-Evans both also said they support the proposal.
It would be a good incentive for new candidates to run, people who might not otherwise have the “connections” for a successful run, James-Evans said.
If there is one thing that goldson truly likes it is an entitlement program from the government. this is just welfare for aldermen. if goldson feels he needs campaign money why doesn't he just get out there and work to raise it? or at least call linda to write him a check.