Comments on: Public Financing of Elections In The Community Room With The Lead Pipe http://www.yourct.com/2009/12/public-financing-of-elections-in-the-community-room-with-the-lead-pipe/ Connecticut Political Commentary, News and Analysis Wed, 25 Jan 2012 04:05:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Chris Donahue http://www.yourct.com/2009/12/public-financing-of-elections-in-the-community-room-with-the-lead-pipe/comment-page-1/#comment-162597 Chris Donahue Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:37:48 +0000 http://www.yourct.com/new/?p=5652#comment-162597 Here is a letter to the editor of the Hour, from one of the city's two registrars of voters that breaks down voter trends for the last municipal election, and gives some round numbers on monies spent by the candidate pool... http://thehour.com/story/479251 I thought it might be a good way kind of close this thread. Here is a letter to the editor of the Hour, from one of the city’s two registrars of voters that breaks down voter trends for the last municipal election, and gives some round numbers on monies spent by the candidate pool…

http://thehour.com/story/479251

I thought it might be a good way kind of close this thread.

]]> By: Chris MC http://www.yourct.com/2009/12/public-financing-of-elections-in-the-community-room-with-the-lead-pipe/comment-page-1/#comment-162433 Chris MC Mon, 07 Dec 2009 22:12:10 +0000 http://www.yourct.com/new/?p=5652#comment-162433 Paid advertising is free speech, within the confines of libel, decency, etceteras... And commercial speech is treated differently under the law from political speech. There is a more practical problem with trying to set a schedule for a campaign: it affords a tremendous advantage to incumbents. One of the reasons that campaigning starts early is the need for unknown candidates to become known. We already have the experience of watching our Governor and her predecessor spending taxpayer dollars for campaign ads thinly disguised as PSA's for tourism, or 911, or what have you. And a sitting elected official has an insurmountable advantage over a private individual with no public position to avail himself of "earned media" - all he has to do is open his mouth in a meeting and he's off and running [pun intended]. The law currently on the books for state-level races is flawed, but to be sure we are seeing the wisdom of the intent to level the playing field. The bar for fund raising is meaningfully high, as recent aspirants to certain State Legislative, and the current aspirants for constitutional office can no-doubt attest. Meeting the requirements for qualifying and being truly viable at a convention, in a primary, and in a general election, is beyond a two-year long project. Finally, look at what the key criteria now include for viability for the US Senate this cycle, and last: above all, the ability to self-fund is crucial. The Governor's race is on the edge of being similarly situated. Paid advertising is free speech, within the confines of libel, decency, etceteras… And commercial speech is treated differently under the law from political speech.

There is a more practical problem with trying to set a schedule for a campaign: it affords a tremendous advantage to incumbents. One of the reasons that campaigning starts early is the need for unknown candidates to become known. We already have the experience of watching our Governor and her predecessor spending taxpayer dollars for campaign ads thinly disguised as PSA’s for tourism, or 911, or what have you. And a sitting elected official has an insurmountable advantage over a private individual with no public position to avail himself of “earned media” – all he has to do is open his mouth in a meeting and he’s off and running [pun intended].

The law currently on the books for state-level races is flawed, but to be sure we are seeing the wisdom of the intent to level the playing field. The bar for fund raising is meaningfully high, as recent aspirants to certain State Legislative, and the current aspirants for constitutional office can no-doubt attest. Meeting the requirements for qualifying and being truly viable at a convention, in a primary, and in a general election, is beyond a two-year long project.

Finally, look at what the key criteria now include for viability for the US Senate this cycle, and last: above all, the ability to self-fund is crucial. The Governor’s race is on the edge of being similarly situated.

]]> By: Secondhand Rose http://www.yourct.com/2009/12/public-financing-of-elections-in-the-community-room-with-the-lead-pipe/comment-page-1/#comment-162417 Secondhand Rose Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:43:09 +0000 http://www.yourct.com/new/?p=5652#comment-162417 OT, that's a very good question, and one that I'm hard-pressed to actually answer. My gut reaction was to say that I don't think ANYONE should be paid, going right on up to the office of president - but then your question about limiting public office to the people who can actually afford to run a campaign comes in. On the other hand, however, if we pay people for getting elected to public office, how can one draw the line at electing people who truly have a mission to serve, instead of electing people who are in the game solely for what they think they can financially gain from it, and who could not care less for the city, state, or country other than what money they can put in their own pockets? And then you have the question of people who are running their own businesses or who are employed and making a tidy enough income so that being required to abandon said income keeps them from running for office in the first place? For example, each time a mayoral election comes up there are rumors that a highly-respected local politician seriously wants to run for the office but holds back because a 6-figure salary stands between the office and the politician. If this rumor is even remotely true, then our city loses a potentially excellent mayor because they can't possibly be paid the same amount of money for holding office that they can make in the private sector. Either way, we all lose. It seems to be one of those Catch-22 situations. OT, that’s a very good question, and one that I’m hard-pressed to actually answer.

My gut reaction was to say that I don’t think ANYONE should be paid, going right on up to the office of president – but then your question about limiting public office to the people who can actually afford to run a campaign comes in.

On the other hand, however, if we pay people for getting elected to public office, how can one draw the line at electing people who truly have a mission to serve, instead of electing people who are in the game solely for what they think they can financially gain from it, and who could not care less for the city, state, or country other than what money they can put in their own pockets?

And then you have the question of people who are running their own businesses or who are employed and making a tidy enough income so that being required to abandon said income keeps them from running for office in the first place? For example, each time a mayoral election comes up there are rumors that a highly-respected local politician seriously wants to run for the office but holds back because a 6-figure salary stands between the office and the politician. If this rumor is even remotely true, then our city loses a potentially excellent mayor because they can’t possibly be paid the same amount of money for holding office that they can make in the private sector. Either way, we all lose.

It seems to be one of those Catch-22 situations.

]]> By: Chris Donahue http://www.yourct.com/2009/12/public-financing-of-elections-in-the-community-room-with-the-lead-pipe/comment-page-1/#comment-162416 Chris Donahue Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:39:43 +0000 http://www.yourct.com/new/?p=5652#comment-162416 It has been brought to my attention that my post here may be construed in a way I did not intend. Please allow me a moment to clarify... I, as a candidate, had no budget for an individual mailing. The Democratic Party did do mailings, that included information about me, as well as my fellow candidates. This was funded by they party, and not by me, or any candidate committee. Additionally, of the $475.00 mentioned above, $375.00 was one donation from District D, which is the maximum the current campaign finance laws allow from a PAC of that type to a campaign committee for a Common Council Candidate. The party was very fair with contributions to individual campaign committees, but the general public was being more conservative with the discretionary income when it came to donations to campaigns (at least in my experience). My point was, even with me receiving the largest donation allowed by law from the District, and being included on a citywide mailing, that was paid for by the party, I still spent approximately $525.00 of my own money to run for a position that pays only $600.00 per year (before taxes). It makes me wonder how many qualified candidates walk away from the whole thing when they do some basic arithmetic and realized there was a good chance that in addition to their time, they stood to be out of a good amount of their hard-earned money. There needs to be some way to balance out the system. It has been brought to my attention that my post here may be construed in a way I did not intend. Please allow me a moment to clarify…
I, as a candidate, had no budget for an individual mailing. The Democratic Party did do mailings, that included information about me, as well as my fellow candidates. This was funded by they party, and not by me, or any candidate committee. Additionally, of the $475.00 mentioned above, $375.00 was one donation from District D, which is the maximum the current campaign finance laws allow from a PAC of that type to a campaign committee for a Common Council Candidate.
The party was very fair with contributions to individual campaign committees, but the general public was being more conservative with the discretionary income when it came to donations to campaigns (at least in my experience).
My point was, even with me receiving the largest donation allowed by law from the District, and being included on a citywide mailing, that was paid for by the party, I still spent approximately $525.00 of my own money to run for a position that pays only $600.00 per year (before taxes).
It makes me wonder how many qualified candidates walk away from the whole thing when they do some basic arithmetic and realized there was a good chance that in addition to their time, they stood to be out of a good amount of their hard-earned money. There needs to be some way to balance out the system.

]]> By: OLD TIMER http://www.yourct.com/2009/12/public-financing-of-elections-in-the-community-room-with-the-lead-pipe/comment-page-1/#comment-162414 OLD TIMER Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:21:16 +0000 http://www.yourct.com/new/?p=5652#comment-162414 Rose: Are you suggesting that folks like the mayor should work the hours that job requires without being paid ? Regardless of the party, that would pretty much limit the job to people who were independently wealthy and create a true "ruling class" of wealthy citizens, as opposed to what we have now where even people of limited means can, at least, aspire for such elected positions. It has gotten to be a fact of life that only those who have, or can raise, big money can get elected. It has been a long time since Norwalk had mayors who worked full time jobs or ran businesses and ran for the part-time job of mayor. Many small towns have part-time elected mayors and paid, full time, city managers. Rose:
Are you suggesting that folks like the mayor should work the hours that job requires without being paid ? Regardless of the party, that would pretty much limit the job to people who were independently wealthy and create a true “ruling class” of wealthy citizens, as opposed to what we have now where even people of limited means can, at least, aspire for such elected positions. It has gotten to be a fact of life that only those who have, or can raise, big money can get elected. It has been a long time since Norwalk had mayors who worked full time jobs or ran businesses and ran for the part-time job of mayor. Many small towns have part-time elected mayors and paid, full time, city managers.

]]> By: turfgrrl http://www.yourct.com/2009/12/public-financing-of-elections-in-the-community-room-with-the-lead-pipe/comment-page-1/#comment-162379 turfgrrl Mon, 07 Dec 2009 03:00:41 +0000 http://www.yourct.com/new/?p=5652#comment-162379 Barnstorm: It is a conundrum, starting with the question about what is free speech. I don't think paid advertising is free speech, therefor it can be regulated. I point to cigarette and alcohol advertising, both of which are regulated. An election should have a season, just like the NFL or MLB. I don't think it is unreasonable to set a time period for that season. Barnstorm: It is a conundrum, starting with the question about what is free speech. I don’t think paid advertising is free speech, therefor it can be regulated. I point to cigarette and alcohol advertising, both of which are regulated. An election should have a season, just like the NFL or MLB. I don’t think it is unreasonable to set a time period for that season.

]]> By: Barnstorm http://www.yourct.com/2009/12/public-financing-of-elections-in-the-community-room-with-the-lead-pipe/comment-page-1/#comment-162367 Barnstorm Mon, 07 Dec 2009 00:36:26 +0000 http://www.yourct.com/new/?p=5652#comment-162367 Turfie you've raised the conundrum that stirs this whole debate. How does one set time limits and access limits for election campaigns without government setting the limits and the far right screaming their heads off about yet still MORE government intrusion? Wouldn't this feed their "socialism" frenzy? Would our Bigelow tea factory get raided by the torchlit mobs and the tea dumped on the steps of City Hall? Could I get even MORE carried away? Turfie you’ve raised the conundrum that stirs this whole debate. How does one set time limits and access limits for election campaigns without government setting the limits and the far right screaming their heads off about yet still MORE government intrusion? Wouldn’t this feed their “socialism” frenzy? Would our Bigelow tea factory get raided by the torchlit mobs and the tea dumped on the steps of City Hall? Could I get even MORE carried away?

]]> By: Chris Donahue http://www.yourct.com/2009/12/public-financing-of-elections-in-the-community-room-with-the-lead-pipe/comment-page-1/#comment-162361 Chris Donahue Sun, 06 Dec 2009 21:43:57 +0000 http://www.yourct.com/new/?p=5652#comment-162361 Rose - I wanted to run for Common Council, before I discovered that it pays $600.00 a year. The money wasn't the reason I did it, and for $600.00 that isn't much of an incentive. On the other hand, it can be argued that a city might get a better caliber of candidate of the positions were compensated that same as a private sector job. Jill - Knocking on doors is the key to winning a local election, but to be most effective, a candidate needs to have hand-out to leave with constituents, and lawn signs to re-enforce the name recognition. Mailers are a good reinforcement as well, and those cost money. As I indicated, I spend almost $1000.00 on my campaign, and spent 85% of that on hand-out and lawn signs, I did no mailers of my own, because I did not have the budget. our form of government requires representatives to run for office, and unless there is some way to balance the field, it will most likely come down to the one with the most $$$ will win. Rose -
I wanted to run for Common Council, before I discovered that it pays $600.00 a year. The money wasn’t the reason I did it, and for $600.00 that isn’t much of an incentive. On the other hand, it can be argued that a city might get a better caliber of candidate of the positions were compensated that same as a private sector job.

Jill -
Knocking on doors is the key to winning a local election, but to be most effective, a candidate needs to have hand-out to leave with constituents, and lawn signs to re-enforce the name recognition. Mailers are a good reinforcement as well, and those cost money. As I indicated, I spend almost $1000.00 on my campaign, and spent 85% of that on hand-out and lawn signs, I did no mailers of my own, because I did not have the budget. our form of government requires representatives to run for office, and unless there is some way to balance the field, it will most likely come down to the one with the most $$$ will win.

]]> By: turfgrrl http://www.yourct.com/2009/12/public-financing-of-elections-in-the-community-room-with-the-lead-pipe/comment-page-1/#comment-162357 turfgrrl Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:49:24 +0000 http://www.yourct.com/new/?p=5652#comment-162357 There's a bunch of issues that concern the money in politics and government right now. The endless campaign cycle is one of them. The idea that lobbyists have more influence on government is another. But it's even more unrealistic to expect that government can be done on the cheap either by part time legislators or by compensating the positions so poorly. The whole system is broken. The first area I'd address is the length of campaigns, scale them back to reasonable time periods 8 weeks, say, and require all the media to give the same amount of time or print space to all candidates to present their messages. Get the money out of it and make it equal time. There’s a bunch of issues that concern the money in politics and government right now. The endless campaign cycle is one of them. The idea that lobbyists have more influence on government is another. But it’s even more unrealistic to expect that government can be done on the cheap either by part time legislators or by compensating the positions so poorly. The whole system is broken.
The first area I’d address is the length of campaigns, scale them back to reasonable time periods 8 weeks, say, and require all the media to give the same amount of time or print space to all candidates to present their messages. Get the money out of it and make it equal time.

]]> By: ENW http://www.yourct.com/2009/12/public-financing-of-elections-in-the-community-room-with-the-lead-pipe/comment-page-1/#comment-162350 ENW Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:15:07 +0000 http://www.yourct.com/new/?p=5652#comment-162350 You're right there. For an extreme example, there is no no need to look any further than the reported $102 million that Bloomberg spent on his reelection as mayor of NYC. Not sure if that even includes the largesse that was donated to various recipients by his corporation. By the way, thanks to TG for a past post about Lawrence Lessig / Change Congress. I've become a big fan. You’re right there.
For an extreme example, there is no no need to look any further than the reported $102 million that Bloomberg spent on his reelection as mayor of NYC. Not sure if that even includes the largesse that was donated to various recipients by his corporation.
By the way, thanks to TG for a past post about Lawrence Lessig / Change Congress. I’ve become a big fan.

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