{"id":7949,"date":"2015-08-25T00:15:43","date_gmt":"2015-08-25T04:15:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=7949"},"modified":"2015-08-25T00:15:43","modified_gmt":"2015-08-25T04:15:43","slug":"lehigh-county-executive-goes-all-in-for-campaign-finance-reform","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=7949","title":{"rendered":"Lehigh County Executive Goes All In For Campaign Finance Reform"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n

Lehigh County Executive unveils proposal for controlled spending <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

(Allentown)<\/strong> Lehigh County Executive Tom Muller today unveiled his proposal to institute limits to both campaign donations and campaign spending for the critical legislative and administrative elected County positions which ultimately control spending.<\/p>\n

“There has been a lot of talk about reform in Lehigh County over the past few years.\u00a0 Rather than just paying lip service to the notion of campaign finance reform, my plan represents REAL reform,” said Muller. \u00a0“It shines sunlight on many of the areas that have gone undisclosed in years past and it addresses the concerns most often raised by people interested in good, ethical government.”<\/p>\n

Muller’s proposal is modeled after the City of Philadelphia’s campaign finance law, which imposes yearly spending limits on behalf of campaigns, and closes loopholes that would allow wealthy contributors to essentially \u201cbuy\u201d elected positions. \u00a0Currently, Lehigh County has no limitations on donations to or spending by candidates for office.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have been considering such a proposal since I was elected but didn\u2019t feel I\u2019d get the support needed from our Board of Commissioners. Their recent embracing of a Philadelphia approach to contributions and contracts suggests we are all on the same page\u201d, said Muller.\u00a0 \u201cPhiladelphia was alert enough to address all sides of campaign funding and Lehigh County needs to do the same.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause existing campaign laws allow funding of campaigns through a variety of channels, it is necessary to go beyond contribution limits and also establish limits for spending on campaigns.\u00a0 I doubt the average citizen is aware of how much is being spent on campaigns for even part-time positions except when the mailbox is stuffed with political flyers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Under the plan proposed by Muller, individual contributions to any candidate would be limited to $2,500 per candidate, per year and contributions from political committees would be limited to $7,500 per candidate per year.<\/p>\n

Campaign spending limitations would include $125,000 for County Executive candidates, $7,500 for districted County Commissioner candidates, and $12,500 for “at-large” County Commissioner candidates.\u00a0 He is particularly pleased his proposal has drawn the support of the Controller, Sheriff, Coroner and Clerk of Judicial Records and they would set the maximum spending for their elected positions at no more than the annual pay for that office.<\/p>\n

In addition, a candidate may only have one “checkbook” out of which all expenditures in seeking office and for any transition or celebrations would be paid.<\/p>\n

Muller is in the process of working with the Department of Law to determine what legislative approach is best for establishing these limits and has expressed a willingness to work with the commissioners to \u201ctweak\u201d the spending limits for their $7,000 positions if they believe it is necessary.\u00a0 Commissioner Geoff Brace has already committed to sponsoring the proposal in whatever form is determined by the Department of Law.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Proposed Lehigh County Campaign Finance Limits<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Campaign Contributions<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n