Press Release: Ogden Ethics Project Asks Candidates to Adopt Voluntary Campaign Finance Limitations

For immediate release -- 6 July 2011

Contact: Dan Schroeder, 801-xxx-xxxx

ETHICS GROUP ASKS CANDIDATES TO ADOPT VOLUNTARY CAMPAIGN FINANCE
LIMITATIONS

The Ogden Ethics Project, a nonpartisan organization formed in May, is asking all Ogden City municipal election candidates to adopt a set of voluntary campaign contribution limitations.

The limitations will close loopholes in Ogden’s existing campaign finance disclosure law, ensure that voters know the sources of candidates’ funds, and encourage all candidates to represent a broad spectrum of citizens rather than just a few special interests. By city ordinance, campaign contributions are already limited to $5000 for mayoral candidates and $1500 for city council candidates.

In brief, the voluntary limitations would:

* Prohibit campaign contributions from corporations, business entities, and unions;

* Allow contributions from registered political action committees, but only if they are not being used to circumvent contribution limits or disclosure requirements;

* Prohibit contributions that are made indirectly, through third parties;

* Prohibit any coordination between a candidate’s campaign and anyone making independent political expenditures that bypass the campaign treasury;

* Require individuals contributing $250 or more to report their employers’ names.

Restrictions such as these are already mandated in many states and at the federal level. The Ogden Ethics Project is asking candidates to voluntarily accept these limitations only if their opponents also agree to do so.

In past elections, contributions from narrow business interests have dominated some of Ogden’s campaigns, and several candidates have accepted contributions from organizations that were used to avoid contribution limits and disclosure requirements.

The checklist of voluntary campaign contribution restrictions is being mailed today to all known candidates for mayor and city council, and will be mailed to newly declared candidates soon after they register with the city. The checklist can also be downloaded from http://ogdenethics.org/resources.html.

After all candidates have had an opportunity to respond, a summary of their responses will be posted at http://ogdenethics.org.