Sunday, December 12, 1999
Reform ideas find support
Portune gives campaign plan
BY EARNEST WINSTON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Cincinnati City Councilman Todd Portune outlined his plan for campaign finance reform at a public meeting Saturday.
It was welcomed by many of the 50 or so campaign finance reform activists at the two-hour meeting at Mount Auburn Presbyterian Church. Supporters hope to put the plan on the November ballot.
Charles Juntikka, a New York attorney who led efforts several years ago to overhaul New York City's campaign finance law, told the crowd Mr. Portune's undertaking would attract council candidates who lack money.
Republican Councilman Charlie Winburn, who did not attend Saturday's meeting, said citizens have a right to donate as much as they want.
“It appears that those people who are pushing campaign finance reform don't know that they will be limiting African-Americans and white women from having equal access to donors,” Mr. Winburn said.
Mr. Portune's latest plan would set up an optional system of public financing. It would allow council candidates to get $2 of public money for every $1 they raise, up to 67 percent of an expenditures limit for candidates for mayor and city council.
Mr. Portune, a Democrat, said his plan “is all about restoring trust and faith in government.”
The Portune plan also calls for:
• No contributions from individuals to exceed $1,000; from PACs exceeding $2,500; or from political parties in excess of $10,000 for council/mayoral candidates.
• Voluntary spending limits of three times a council member's salary or, in the mayor's race, three times the mayor's salary.
• Increasing the number of times council candidates have to report their contributions in an election cycle.
Two earlier campaign finance laws authored by Mr. Portune were passed in 1995. But the campaign spending limit law was struck down by the courts, and the campaign contribution limits was withdrawn by council before the 1999 campaign.
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