DEPARTMENT: City Auditor
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Kevin Barthold
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: All
SUBJECT:
Council Consideration Request for Campaign Finance Reform
SUMMARY:
Councilmember Courage submitted a Council Consideration Request (CCR) in July 2017 seeking additional disclosure of principal occupation, job title, and employer of all contributors to a candidate for Council on the state-mandated contributions and expenditures reports. This item gives an overview of the process taken to date in reviewing and developing recommendations in consultation with the Ethics Review Board.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The CCR filed by Councilmember Courage in July 2017, requested the disclosure of principal occupation, job title, and employer of contributors by candidates seeking a municipal office. This would go beyond of what is currently required by Title 15, Sec. 254.031 of the Texas Election Code.
The Ethics Review Board (ERB) subcommittee on Municipal Campaign Finance Code met on July 31, 2017 to discuss the matter. They then took their considerations to the ERB full committee on August 8, 2017. After further discussion at the meeting with the full committee, the subcommittee on Municipal Campaign Finance Code was instructed to review and study the issue further, and return to the ERB committee with possible recommendations.
ISSUE:
The ERB subcommittee on Municipal Campaign Finance Code will meet August 29, 2017, to study the matter further. They will then take their considerations and recommendations back to the full ERB committee on September 12, 2017, to discuss and vote on recommendations to be presented back to the Governance Committee.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Governance Committee can provide additional guidance regarding campaign finance disclosures.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends formally forwarding this CCR to the Ethics Review Board for consideration and development of a recommendation. The Ethics Review Board is prepared to present recomm...
Click here for full text