public financing
The Orange County Democratic Party is hosting an information forum on Chapel Hill's new system of Voter Owned Elections. The party invites all residents to learn how potential candidates for public office can use this publicly financed system to help finance the costs of running for office.
Introductory remarks will be made by Gene Nichol, former Dean of the UNC Law School. There will be additional presentations by Common Cause, Democracy North Carolina and a panel discussion.
The forum will be held Tuesday evening, June 23rd, at the Chapel Hill Town Council Chambers at 405 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., and will begin at 7pm. This event will last about an hour.
Carrboro residents are encouraged to attend as well to learn how this system works.
Date:
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 - 3:00pm
Location:
Chapel Hill Town Hall, 405 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Chapel Hill, NC
Do you want to help ensure Democrats win in 2010?
What if one step was so simple it only required you to place a check mark on a form you already have to fill out?
This year, when you file your taxes, be sure to check off the Democratic Party under NC Political Parties Financing Fund.
Doing so won't cost you one extra penny on your tax return or reduce your refund, and you'll be helping to guarantee that Democrats across the state have the necessary funding to compete in 2010.
It's that simple.
Additionally, you can also support public financing of campaigns by supporting the Public Campaign Fund.
This Fund pays for a useful Voter Guide sent to all homes and helps candidates in NC's top courts who accept spending limits and refuse big campaign donations.
Niether of the options affects your tax bill or refund in any way.
I'm surprised to see our Town Council holding an official meeting at a corporate chain. Why not meet at Owen's or Breadmen's?
| Title: |
Council Committee on Voter Owned Elections |
| Date: |
May 28, 2008 |
| Address: |
81 South Elliot Rd.
Chapel HIll, NC 27514
|
| Location: |
Whole Foods |
| Hours: |
8:30 a.m. |
Date:
Wednesday, May 28, 2008 - 4:30am
Press release:
CHAPEL HILL HEARING ON PUBLIC FINANCING
Wednesday, May 14, 7pm, Chapel Hill Town Hall
Last year, the town of Chapel Hill became the first municipality in the
state authorized to create a Voter-Owned Elections program for local
races
Now, the town of Chapel Hill is introducing such a proposal. It would
allow grassroots candidates to run for mayor of town council while
raising only $5 and $10, and $20 contributions from local residents
The town has put together draft legislation and will solicit feedback
from Chapel Hillians at a public hearing on Wednesday, May 14th at 7pm.
The meeting will be held at the Chapel Hill Town Hall located 405
Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. (Note: The Voter-Owned Elections section
starts right at 7pm, so try and get there by 6:45. We’ll have talking
points you can use).
NC Voters for Clean Elections has been working with the town of Chapel Hill for years to make this reform possible. Now that the proposal is being considered, it’s very important that we demonstrate public support.
If you are a resident of Chapel Hill or Orange County, please come to
the public hearing and speak out in support of the Voter-Owned
Elections initiative.
To read the proposed ordinance click here.
More about Voter Owned Elections: The proposed Chapel Hill
program would allow community-supported candidates without access to
wealth to competitively run for town office. It would invigorate small
dollar participation by encouraging candidates to run solely with
contributions between $5 and $20. It would provide a check on the
campaign money chase and the escalating cost of elections by allowing
candidates to spend more time listening to voters and less time
fundraising from big donors. And it would reduce the influence of money
and special interest groups, by giving candidates a meaningful way to
run without these groups’ support. Finally, it would allow the public
to have more ownership of the process, by turning campaigns and
campaign financing into a public good.
For more information about the meeting, or if you have comments or
suggestions on the proposal, please call Chase Foster at (919)521-4121
or contact him by email at chase@ncvce.org.
Date:
Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - 3:00pm
Location:
Chapel Hill Town Hall, 405 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
Note: The DTH source article was incorrect; read Bob Hall's comment below. Thanks, Bob. -JB
Did anyone else read the article in today's Daily Tar Heel about the meeting of the Mayor's Committee on Campaign Finance on Monday? Below is an excerpt, which concerns me a bit..
The committee decided to include rescue funds as a separate provision despite concerns about complicating the campaign process, financing the fund and enforcing the necessary spending reports.
Benchmarks for matching candidates' spending with public funding also were also established.
Candidates for council office will receive $3,000 in public funds if they can raise $750 from personal contributions and $2,250 from other local avenues.
Mayoral candidates must raise $1,500 in personal contributions and an additional $4,500 from community sources to be matched with $6,000 in public funds.
"It does open up the field to more citizens who do have a real base in the community but may not necessarily have access to a lot of money," said Bob Hall, executive director of Democracy North Carolina, a Durham-based nonprofit that advocates for campaign reform.
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