Elizabeth Patterson on Fair Campaigns & Campaign Financing

In January 2006 Elizabeth introduced clean campaign reform for action at the City Council. She proposed Voluntary Expenditure Limits of sixty-five ($.65) per resident. Another proposal by Vice Mayor Schwartzman is for $1.00 per resident. See the ordinance on the City's website for details. This ordinance has NOT been adopted in either form - it is now June 2007.

Elizabeth also introduced campaign donation restrictions for corporations with headquarters out of the city, county or state. (Note that Seeno is headquartered in Concord, California and Valero is headquartered in Texas.) This does not limit corporate officials or employees from supporting candidates of their choice - it only limits the corporations (with much more money behind them). Her proposed ordinance also introduced the posting of expenditures or contributions over $1,000.00 within twenty-four (24) hours on the city website. Additional recommendations are that elected council members who received $2,500 or more must recuse themselves from participating in a discussion or voting on a project by the source of the donation. All of these proposals were rejected in May 2007. This action by the council majority (Vice Mayor Schwartzman and Elizabeth Patterson voted in favor of these) rejects the public's advice, suggestions, and recommendations over several months. The council majority said that the public that showed up or wrote did not represent the majority of Benicia citizens. Elizabeth does not agree and will continue to support these clean campaign reforms.

To view the draft ordinances on the Benicia City website, click below.

Voluntary Expenditure Limits Ordinance

Campaign Finance Ordinance

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