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The Tuesday Count: “Clean Elections” initiative on path to 2015 ballot in Maine
February 24, 2015
Edited by Ryan Byrne
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Voters in Chicago, Illinois, are not just voting for mayoral and city council candidates today, but on three citywide advisory referendums and a few ward-specific questions. While one of the non-binding questions focuses on campaign finance reform in Chicago, a binding initiative on the same topic was recently confirmed as having more than enough signatures to make the ballot in Maine.
Maine "Clean Elections" initiative one step closer to the ballot:
Following a successful petition drive, the Maine "Clean Elections" Initiative, an indirect initiated state statute, now goes to the Maine Legislature. About 80,000 valid signatures were collected, reported Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap (D), roughly 18,900 more than the 61,123 required signatures.[1] Legislators will now have the opportunity to adopt the initiative into law and avoid an election on the issue, to pass an alternative measure to compete with the initiative, or to do nothing. The latter option would see the initiative placed on the ballot alone in the election on November 3, 2015.
The initiative is sponsored by Maine Citizens for Clean Elections, a group contending that the Maine Clean Elections Act needs to be strengthened.[2] The original Maine Clean Elections Act came into law via a 1996 initiative. The new proposed ballot measure would allow candidates to qualify for supplemental funds, close corporate tax loopholes to fund the program, require disclaimers in political advertising, require disclosures regarding gubernatorial inaugurations and transitions, and raise fines and penalties of violations.[3] Supporters believe the initiative would engender a fairer playing field for candidates who can't, or refuse to, seek large private contributions and decrease the influence of moneyed interests in elections.[4]
No other initiatives submitted signatures to appear on the 2015 ballot in Maine. While proponents of the Ranked Choice Voting Initiative had enough unverified signatures, the sponsoring committee decided to aim for the 2016 ballot instead.[5]
Local spotlight
Chicago municipal election today features notable advisory questions, including "Fair Elections" campaign finance reform:
Along with the 184 candidates vying for the 50 city council seats, Chicago voters will see various advisory referendums on their ballots. The three citywide advisory questions concern campaign finance reform, mandatory paid sick leave and domestic violence.[6]
Most notably, the "Fair Elections Illinois" question would ask voters if they are in favor of campaign finance reform to provide public funds to match any small donations from individuals at a six-to-one ratio, emphasizing multiple small donations and limiting the impact of large donations.[7]
Follow this page as election results are released tonight to find out what Chicago voters think of these issues.
Lompico Water District in Santa Cruz County to decide bond issue, tax and contentious consolidation issue today:
Voters in Santa Cruz County's Lompico Water District (LCWD) will decide Measure N today, which will seal the fate of a proposal to consolidate the district with the San Lorenzo Valley Water District (SLVWD).[8]
Supporters say that the consolidation and improved infrastructure will result in lower water bills, which will, over time, more than compensate for the increased taxes needed to finance the bond issue, ultimately saving residents money and improving the water system.[8]
Opponents argue that the bond issue, with principal and interest, will amount to more than $8 million in unnecessary spending, resulting in consolidation with an allegedly untrustworthy neighboring district. They argue that the system works fine as it is, using the "if its not broke don't fix it argument." They also stress that with consolidation and the new taxes, Lompico Water District residents will be paying for system infrastructure construction and maintenance for both the LCWD and the SLVWD, which is unfair to LCWD residents.[8]
See this page for election results as they are reported tonight.
Other measures in the news
- New York Constitutional Convention Question (2015): Republican representatives are calling for a constitutional convention in New York.[9]
- Florida Minimum Wage Increase Initiative (2016): U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL) wants to push for a $15 minimum wage, but is going to advocate a $12.50 wage initiative instead to avoid his opponents going "bonkers."[10]
- New Mexico Independent Police Review Boards Amendment (2016): In light of recent protests related to police accountability, Rep. Patricia Caballero (D-13) introduces an amendment allowing local governments to establish independent citizen police review boards.[11]
- West Virginia Right to Hunt, Fish and Harvest Amendment (2016): Some legislators are looking for West Virginia to become the 19th state to provide for a right to hunt and fish.[12]
See also
| 2015 ballot measures |
| Tuesday Count • 2015 Scorecard |
Footnotes
- ↑ Portland Press Herald, "Maine secretary of state OKs clean election signatures," February 18, 2015
- ↑ Maine Citizens for Clean Elections, "Homepage," accessed January 19, 2015
- ↑ Maine Citizens for Clean Elections, "Initiative," accessed January 19, 2015
- ↑ Bangor Daily News, "Maine Citizens for Clean Elections launches petition to make more cash available to publicly financed candidates," May 6, 2014
- ↑ Portland Press Herald, "Maine effort to switch to ranked-choice voting to wait until 2016," January 22, 2015
- ↑ City of Chicago Elections Office website, "Candidate List: General Election Referenda and Local Options," accessed February 16, 2015
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedFEL - ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Santa Cruz County Elections Office website, “Voter Information Pamphlet for election on February 24, 2015,” accessed January 2, 2015
- ↑ New York General Assembly, "A00531," accessed February 20, 2015
- ↑ Sun Sentinel, "Congressman wants 55 percent increase in minimum wage," February 16, 2015
- ↑ Santa Fe New Mexican, "New Mexico bill meant to improve police accountability," January 18, 2015
- ↑ West Virginia Legislature, "House Joint Resolution 22," accessed February 19, 2015
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