HomeMy WebLinkAboutCampaign Reform - Financial Disclosure Stafford, Kathleen
From: Snyder,Ashley
Sent: Wednesday, December 7, 2016 10:58 AM
To: Stafford, Kathleen
Subject: FW: Campaign Reform - Financial Disclosure during the Petition Process
BOS Correspondence
AshLCU N. Sv�,Uoter
Assistant Clerk of the or
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From: Bennett, Robin
Sent: Monday, December 05, 2016 4:49 PIM
To: Hahn, Paul
Cc: Snyder, Ashley
Subject: FW: Campaign Reform - Financial Disclosure during the Petition Process
BOS correspondence, see email from Chris Sommers, below.
Robin Bennett,
E'xecutive Assistant
(53o)872-63O4
Supervisor Doug `teeter.d.f.f.e.f.f.f.gb u tteco tin nit
.5th District Supervisor's Pffice,
County 91'Butte, Board 1'Supervisors
747 Elliott Road
Paradise, CA. 9.5969 3939
From: chris@mwaranch.com [mailto:chris@mwaranch.com]
Sent: Monday, December 05, 2016 4:39 PIM
To: Connelly, Bill <BConnel ly@ buttecou nty.net>; Wahl, Larry<LWahl@buttecounty.net>; Kirk, Maureen
<M Kirk@ buttecou nty.net>; BOS District 4<District4@ buttecou nty.net>;Teeter, Doug<DTeeter@ buttecou nty.net>
Subject: Campaign Reform - Financial Disclosure during the Petition Process
Dear Supervisors,
I would like to make a proposal to promote more transparency of the Butte County
ballot initiative and processes. Specifically, I believe the petition process merits financial
disclosure requirements. Currently financial disclosure is only required by campaign
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committees once a measure is put in the ballot. This allows the public to know who is
financially backing or opposing a measure.
Gathering the signatures for a ballot initiative or referendum is typically performed by
contracted agencies which charge $5 per signature (as a rule of thumb). This can easily
comprise a major expense in a campaign. For example, gathering 7000 signatures to
meet the 10% voter threshold in Butte Co. would cost $35K. In reality, special interests
have gathered 12K signatures per Measure at a potential cost of $60K to provide a
safety margin. This large sum is unaccounted for. Nobody knows who pays for this, yet
it is perhaps the single most important milestone in such a campaign.
In the past two years Butte County saw no fewer than 5 petition drives of this nature.
Each time, the public was deprived of the knowledge of who paid for the signatures.
Were they outside special interests? Local businesses or individuals? All of this should be
in the full light of day. The source of such large sums of money should be subjected to
public scrutiny.
Another observation is that the signature-gatherers are often supplied by contract
agencies who bring in temporary workers from out of area. These workers man tables at
high foot-traffic locations and ask local voters to sign a petition. Anecdotally, these
workers are ill-informed as to the actual cause they are promoting; misrepresent the
agenda; and hound people into just signing for something. I think voters should know
where these people live or are registered to vote; the fact that they are being paid; and
by whom. At least this may cause voters to more carefully consider before signing the
petition.
I sent the letter below to the FPPC via their website. You can see their response below
that - it provided no help and advised me to consult with the county. So I am asking the
BOS to consider this idea and task the county staff to research the feasibility. I also
found an interesting document talking about this topic.
http://www.calvoter.ora/issues/disclosure/pub/areenliningpaper.pdf
If this concept is at odds with CA State law then perhaps we can enlist the support of a
state representative to champion this cause at the state level. It is high time.
As always, thank you for your leadership, wisdom and public service.
Regards,
Chris Sommers
Bangor, CA
530-679-0145
To: FPCC
Date: 11-16-2016
To my knowledge there are no state disclosure requirements for ballot initiatives,
specifically disclosure of how petition signature-gathering is funded. Questions:
1. Is this true?
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2. Are there any cities or counties which have their own disclosure requirements, which
might serve as an example?
3. Butte County is a charter county. Can it write laws regarding gathering of petition
(ballot initiative) signatures without conflicting with state law? I am looking for ways to
make the "pre-campaign" process more transparent, just like campaign reform laws do
today. Specifically, I'd like a requirement to disclose fundraising and expenses
associated with petition circulation. I'd also like a requirement for signature-gatherers to
obtain a county permit, disclose their county of residence and the fact they are being
paid to gather signatures, and by whom, and to have to display this information
conspicuously when gathering signatures. Do any of these ideas pose conflicts with state
law?
From: FPPC
Date: 11-22-16
Thank you for contacting the Secretary of State's Elections Division with your recent
email.
We do not have the answers to your questions. You may want to contact the county
election office or an election law attorney for the answers to your questions.
We hope this information is helpful to you. If you have further questions about this or
another matter related to the Secretary of State's Elections Division, please call (916)
657-2166.
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