Board Approves Public Financing For Mayoral Elections
Newsom says he will sign law, refuse funds
Millions of taxpayer dollars could finance future candidates for The City’s highest office, a move supporters say could make mayoral elections more competitive but raised questions from detractors, including the mayor, if it is the best use of public money considering the ongoing deficit.
On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors approved a partial public financing system for The City’s mayoral races, a move that comes after the break-the-bank election of 2003. During that race, Mayor Gavin Newsom raised $5.7 million, which was five times what his runoff opponent, Matt Gonzalez, raised, although Gonzalez jumped into the race late. Other mayoral races have seen candidates outspent as much as 10-to-1. Newsom said he plans to sign the legislation, but said it should be put before voters since it involves taxpayer money.
The system will allow candidates who demonstrate a substantial base of support to collect as much as $850,000 in public funds to spend on campaign mailers, ads and other expenses. The candidates must promise to cap their expenditures at $1.375 million. Candidates could qualify for the funding if they raise $25,000 from at least 250 donors.
The cost to San Francisco taxpayers would be capped at $2 per resident, or roughly $1.5 million a year. The legislation also includes a one-time $6 million fund-up of the program. Public financing systems are gaining in popularity around the country, and cities such as Los Angeles and New York already have them in place.
“This is a modest step and measured step in trying to ward off the corrosive impact of big money and special interests in our political landscape in San Francisco,†said Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, who sponsored the legislation.
Some supervisors echoed Newsom’s concerns about taxpayer money going to political coffers without approval of the public and whether the system was the best use of public funds since The City is facing an $80 million deficit next year.
“Inevitably, what we are doing is potentially padding our campaign coffers with public dollars,†Supervisor Sean Elsbernd said.
Newsom said he believes a public financing system should apply to all elected offices in San Francisco, include stronger disclosure laws for donations in the 45 days leading up to an election and implement tougher conflict of interest laws.
Newsom said he would sign the legislation, but would not choose to take public funding, saying there were better priorities for the money.
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