SLO council to reconsider public funding proposal for elections

At the request of Councilman Dan Carpenter, the San Luis Obispo City Council will revisit its decision to pursue a “democracy voucher” program that would use public funds for local election campaigns.

Carpenter, who along with two other council members voted March 15 to move ahead with a discussion of the possible voucher program, recently changed his position and asked the City Council on Tuesday to place the issue back on an agenda for reconsideration.

His fellow council members agreed; the item will return for discussion April 19.

As proposed, the “democracy voucher” system would give each registered voter $20 to donate to candidates who agree only to receive contributions through the program.

The system would be the first of its kind in California and among the first in the nation, though other cities have some form of publicly financed campaigns.

The council considered the program after a request in August from Citizens Congress, a San Luis Obispo election reform group spearheaded by William Ostrander that proposed an ordinance to create a system of “democracy voucher” funding for municipal elections. Ostrander, a San Luis Obispo farmer, is running for outgoing U.S. Rep. Lois Capps’ 24th District congressional seat on a platform emphasizing campaign finance reform.

City staff estimates the program could cost as much as $650,000 in its first year and about half as much in subsequent years, with money coming out of the city’s general fund.

Carpenter said in an email to The Tribune that he initially joined council members Dan Rivoire and John Ashbaugh in supporting the direction to “level the playing field so more candidates would be encouraged to participate in our elected representative process.”

But after the council’s decision, Carpenter said he heard from “many citizens throughout the community with a primary concern about the inappropriate use of taxpayer resources for candidates.”

Councilwoman Carlyn Christianson and Mayor Jan Marx, who were opposed to moving forward last month, agreed Tuesday to revisit the idea.

“If the majority wishes to do so, then let’s do so,” Rivoire said.

Ashbaugh urged supporters to appear April 19 and continue to remain involved, perhaps by participating in the council’s goal-setting process for its next two-year budget.

This story was originally published April 6, 2016 at 2:34 PM with the headline "SLO council to reconsider public funding proposal for elections."