14 22-0579 Subject: Resolution To Submit To The Voters A Measure To Establish Public Financing For Oakland Elections.
From: Councilmembers Kalb, Council President Bas, And Councilmember Fife
Recommendation: Adopt A Resolution On The City Council's Own Motion Submitting To The Voters At The November 8, 2022, General Municipal Election A Measure That Would Establish Public Financing For Elections Of City And School Board Officials, Increase Transparency Regarding Independent Spending On City Elections, And Further Restrict The Ability Of Former City Officials And Directors To Act As Lobbyists By: (1) Repealing The Limited Public Financing Act And Adopting The Fair Elections Act To Enable Resident Allocation Of Public Financing For Elective Office Campaigns; (2) Amending The Campaign Reform Act And Lobbyist Registration Act; And 3) Amending Section 603 Of The Charter Of The City Of Oakland To Fund Public Ethics Commission Staff To Implement The Fair Elections Act; And Directing The City Clerk To Fix The Date For Submission Of Arguments And Provide For Notice And Publication, And Take Any And All Actions Necessary Under Law To Prepare For And Conduct The November 8, 2022, General Municipal Election
I am writing on behalf of RepresentUs to express our enthusiastic support for the Oakland Fair Elections Act. RepresentUs is a nonpartisan election reform organization that seeks to dismantle the root causes of inequities in our democracy and end political corruption, extremism, and gridlock. RepresentUs is involved in efforts around the country to defend the integrity of the democratic process.
The Oakland Fair Elections Act would bring many sensible, proven reforms to Oakland’s elections. When Seattle adopted a democracy voucher program, for example, it saw a 350% increase in the number of unique donors to local races and an 86% increase in the number of candidates running for office. Campaign donations in local elections are overwhelmingly driven by a small, unrepresentative group of donors. The Oakland Fair Elections Act would further democratize Oakland’s elections by expanding the number of Oaklanders who donate to races, reducing the influence of the most wealthy donors, and encouraging more Oaklanders to run for public office.
At a time when democracy is under threat across the country, we applaud Oakland for being a national leader in securing fairer and more equitable elections. We strongly support the Oakland Fair Elections Act and encourage the Council to put it on the ballot.
I am a D2 resident of Oakland and I support this Fair Elections Act. I believe this is a much needed solution for the city of Oakland to boost the political power of underrepresented communities whose needs are have been historically unmet by the city of Oakland. Please vote to put this campaign finance reform on the November Ballot and show us that the city of Oakland is committed to protecting our local democracy and investing in community power for generations to come.
Apologies if this comment was submitted. Having trouble with the log in. I live in D6 and support this measure. I have seen the impact of outside contributions and we need the Fair Elections measure to help increase engagement of local Oakland residents. Thanks for your support.
Please vote to put campaign finance reform on the ballot. As an Oakland resident, I look forward to using the democracy dollars program and seeing fairer elections for my city.
I am a resident of D5 in Oakland and strongly support this measure. It will strengthen voter engagement and participation in our elections. I have never contributed to a local Oakland campaign before but look forward to doing so through the program this measure would create. Please vote to put the measure on the November ballot.
I am an Oakland resident from District 6. I support the measure for Fair Elections Oakland, and request the Council vote yes to place the measure on the November 2022 ballot.
Please vote to put this item on the ballot in November. It will put Oakland at the forefront of campaign financing -- allowing everyone in the community to have a say in who represents us. I look forward to campaigning for this measure!
Please vote to put this item on the ballot in November. It will put Oakland at the forefront of campaign financing -- allowing everyone in the community to have a say in who represents us. I look forward to campaigning for this measure.
Please place this campaign finance reform measure on the ballot in November. Let the voters decide to get big money out of our politics! Enough is enough...
Campaign financing is the worst thing to happen to elections and it needs reform. Right now, getting and staying in office requires an endless cycle of fundraising, which literally takes time away from officials being able to do their jobs and ties our elected officials to the whims of wealthy donors instead of the needs of the community. Fair elections would let candidates focus on the needs of their communities instead of chasing big money. Please vote yes to get this measure on the ballot in November.
I am a long time resident of D4. I support this campaign finance measure for a number of reasons, including that it is designed to engage more Oakland residents in the election process. Today too few residents are engaged, including young voters and those of diverse socioeconomic, racial and ethnic groups. Not only do few contribute to candidates, but turnout rates are low. Democracy is strongest when everyone participates The League of Women Voters of Oakland, Common Cause, the ACLU of Northern California and many community-based organizations support putting this measure on the November ballot. Please make it happen.
My name is Stephanie Bream and I am a resident of Oakland. Most of us believe that our local elected representatives should be accountable to the community, not money. Our reps should rep us, because we need them to fight for affordable housing, good schools, and real community safety. But right now, getting into office — and staying in office — sticks candidates and elected officials in a cycle of endless fundraising. We need to enable our elected officials to do their jobs, connect with the most impacted folks, and work on making Oaklanders' lives better. Oaklanders work hard, and elected officials need to work hard for Oakland. Fair Elections Oakland would let all voters back candidates we like, and let candidates focus on their communities instead of chasing big money. Vote yes to get the measure on the ballot this November election. Thank you.
On behalf of Stand Up America’s 2,000 Oakland members and 67,707 California members, I strongly urge you to refer the Oakland Fair Elections Act to the November ballot.
Among other things, the Act would establish a “democracy dollars” program like Seattle’s, strengthening representative democracy, empowering more diverse candidates to run for office, increasing donor and voter participation among historically underrepresented residents, and curtailing the influence of special interests and big donors. The Act will be a defining achievement for the Oakland City Council, with positive effects for decades to come.
While “democracy dollars” has been tested and proven in Seattle over multiple election cycles, your referral will make Oakland an essential leader as an early adopter. Citizen groups in San Jose, San Diego, and Los Angeles are already looking to the Fair Elections Oakland grassroots movement for guidance as they urge their cities to adopt similar measures. The Act could also spur campaign finance reform efforts across the country. Cities and states will look to Oakland as an example of how to reform our election system, rein in wealthy special interests, and empower diverse candidates to run for office.
Referral and passage will be a victory for the people of Oakland and ensure that the next generation of Oakland leaders are ready to lead the fight for our democracy.
Brett Edkins
Managing Director, Policy & Political Affairs
Stand Up America
I am an Oakland resident in D4 and I strongly support this measure. I’m so tired of wealthy people outside of our community influencing elections and funding marketing for candidates that serve their interesting. This is one step towards making elections more transparent and helping voters discern how candidates are motivated to act.
I support the Fair Elections Act! Most of us believe that our local elected representatives should be accountable to the community, not money. But right now, getting into office — and staying in office — sticks candidates and elected officials in a cycle of endless fundraising. We need to make it easier for our elected officials to do their jobs, connect with the most impacted folks, and work on making Oaklanders' lives better. Fair Elections Oakland would let all voters back candidates we like, and let candidates focus on their communities instead of chasing big money.
I am writing on behalf of RepresentUs to express our enthusiastic support for the Oakland Fair Elections Act. RepresentUs is a nonpartisan election reform organization that seeks to dismantle the root causes of inequities in our democracy and end political corruption, extremism, and gridlock. RepresentUs is involved in efforts around the country to defend the integrity of the democratic process.
The Oakland Fair Elections Act would bring many sensible, proven reforms to Oakland’s elections. When Seattle adopted a democracy voucher program, for example, it saw a 350% increase in the number of unique donors to local races and an 86% increase in the number of candidates running for office. Campaign donations in local elections are overwhelmingly driven by a small, unrepresentative group of donors. The Oakland Fair Elections Act would further democratize Oakland’s elections by expanding the number of Oaklanders who donate to races, reducing the influence of the most wealthy donors, and encouraging more Oaklanders to run for public office.
At a time when democracy is under threat across the country, we applaud Oakland for being a national leader in securing fairer and more equitable elections. We strongly support the Oakland Fair Elections Act and encourage the Council to put it on the ballot.
Sincerely,
David O’Brien
Policy Counsel
RepresentUs
I am a D2 resident of Oakland and I support this Fair Elections Act. I believe this is a much needed solution for the city of Oakland to boost the political power of underrepresented communities whose needs are have been historically unmet by the city of Oakland. Please vote to put this campaign finance reform on the November Ballot and show us that the city of Oakland is committed to protecting our local democracy and investing in community power for generations to come.
Apologies if this comment was submitted. Having trouble with the log in. I live in D6 and support this measure. I have seen the impact of outside contributions and we need the Fair Elections measure to help increase engagement of local Oakland residents. Thanks for your support.
Please vote to put campaign finance reform on the ballot. As an Oakland resident, I look forward to using the democracy dollars program and seeing fairer elections for my city.
I am a resident of D5 in Oakland and strongly support this measure. It will strengthen voter engagement and participation in our elections. I have never contributed to a local Oakland campaign before but look forward to doing so through the program this measure would create. Please vote to put the measure on the November ballot.
I am an Oakland resident from District 6. I support the measure for Fair Elections Oakland, and request the Council vote yes to place the measure on the November 2022 ballot.
I am an Oakland voter, and I am in support of this.
I support this measure. It will hold elected officials more accountable.
I am a resident of Rockridge in north Oakland and a member of the League of Women Voters Oakland. I support this measure.
Please vote to put this item on the ballot in November. It will put Oakland at the forefront of campaign financing -- allowing everyone in the community to have a say in who represents us. I look forward to campaigning for this measure!
Please vote to put this item on the ballot in November. It will put Oakland at the forefront of campaign financing -- allowing everyone in the community to have a say in who represents us. I look forward to campaigning for this measure.
Please place this campaign finance reform measure on the ballot in November. Let the voters decide to get big money out of our politics! Enough is enough...
Campaign financing is the worst thing to happen to elections and it needs reform. Right now, getting and staying in office requires an endless cycle of fundraising, which literally takes time away from officials being able to do their jobs and ties our elected officials to the whims of wealthy donors instead of the needs of the community. Fair elections would let candidates focus on the needs of their communities instead of chasing big money. Please vote yes to get this measure on the ballot in November.
I am a long time resident of D4. I support this campaign finance measure for a number of reasons, including that it is designed to engage more Oakland residents in the election process. Today too few residents are engaged, including young voters and those of diverse socioeconomic, racial and ethnic groups. Not only do few contribute to candidates, but turnout rates are low. Democracy is strongest when everyone participates The League of Women Voters of Oakland, Common Cause, the ACLU of Northern California and many community-based organizations support putting this measure on the November ballot. Please make it happen.
I am an Oakland resident and I support this resolution. Let's follow Seattle's example!
My name is Stephanie Bream and I am a resident of Oakland. Most of us believe that our local elected representatives should be accountable to the community, not money. Our reps should rep us, because we need them to fight for affordable housing, good schools, and real community safety. But right now, getting into office — and staying in office — sticks candidates and elected officials in a cycle of endless fundraising. We need to enable our elected officials to do their jobs, connect with the most impacted folks, and work on making Oaklanders' lives better. Oaklanders work hard, and elected officials need to work hard for Oakland. Fair Elections Oakland would let all voters back candidates we like, and let candidates focus on their communities instead of chasing big money. Vote yes to get the measure on the ballot this November election. Thank you.
Honorable Councilors:
On behalf of Stand Up America’s 2,000 Oakland members and 67,707 California members, I strongly urge you to refer the Oakland Fair Elections Act to the November ballot.
Among other things, the Act would establish a “democracy dollars” program like Seattle’s, strengthening representative democracy, empowering more diverse candidates to run for office, increasing donor and voter participation among historically underrepresented residents, and curtailing the influence of special interests and big donors. The Act will be a defining achievement for the Oakland City Council, with positive effects for decades to come.
While “democracy dollars” has been tested and proven in Seattle over multiple election cycles, your referral will make Oakland an essential leader as an early adopter. Citizen groups in San Jose, San Diego, and Los Angeles are already looking to the Fair Elections Oakland grassroots movement for guidance as they urge their cities to adopt similar measures. The Act could also spur campaign finance reform efforts across the country. Cities and states will look to Oakland as an example of how to reform our election system, rein in wealthy special interests, and empower diverse candidates to run for office.
Referral and passage will be a victory for the people of Oakland and ensure that the next generation of Oakland leaders are ready to lead the fight for our democracy.
Brett Edkins
Managing Director, Policy & Political Affairs
Stand Up America
I am an Oakland resident in D4 and I strongly support this measure. I’m so tired of wealthy people outside of our community influencing elections and funding marketing for candidates that serve their interesting. This is one step towards making elections more transparent and helping voters discern how candidates are motivated to act.
I support the Fair Elections Act! Most of us believe that our local elected representatives should be accountable to the community, not money. But right now, getting into office — and staying in office — sticks candidates and elected officials in a cycle of endless fundraising. We need to make it easier for our elected officials to do their jobs, connect with the most impacted folks, and work on making Oaklanders' lives better. Fair Elections Oakland would let all voters back candidates we like, and let candidates focus on their communities instead of chasing big money.
I support the Oakland Fair Elections Act.