7 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
Hi I'm Lorcan and I am a resident of Oakland. I support the Oakland Fair Elections Act. We need to strengthen Oakland's democracy and enable our local elected representatives to be accountable to the community, not money. Vote YES!
Hello, my name is Jocelyn 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 hella hard, and elected officials need to work hella 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.
This is a critical measure to strengthen Oakland's democracy. With fairer elections that engage Oaklanders more, we'll be able to get more done in Oakland. At a time when SCOTUS and Congress are chipping away at voting rights and other bedrocks of democracy, it's even more important that we shore up our local elections. We need to create transparency in who funds Oakland elections, equip every Oaklander with the resources to support community-based candidates, and extend the ban on lobbying by former city officials, among the other reforms this measure includes. The Oakland Fair Elections Act has been carefully vetted with ethics experts, election and democracy experts, councilmembers, and Oakland residents. Please vote to put this measure on the November ballot.
Oakland needs a public financing option for our elections. I support the Oakland Fair Elections Act and urge the Council to put this on our November ballot. This measure would give voters $25 vouchers to voters so they can support candidates. It will engage voters in our local government as well as provide funds for candidates who might not otherwise be able to afford to run. It also increases transparency and strengthens lobbying regulations. Please vote to put this measure on the ballot.
As a resident of D5 in Oakland, I strongly support this measure. This is an important tool for supporting voter engagement and participation in our elections, diminishing the influence of a small number of big donors, and increasing the accessibility of running for office to a more diverse pool of candidates. The measure is supported by a strong coalition of community organizations and groups working to strengthen our democracy. Please vote to put this measure on the November ballot.
Please put this on the ballot. Oakland residents need a way to support candidates that represent us. This would go a long way towards strengthening our democracy.
As an Oakland resident, I support putting campaign finance reform on the ballot this November. I want to see more equal access to elections in my city.
I again urge you to put this on the ballot for the November election. This will provide a way to increase public participation in city government. It does require a very small earmark of the city budget. In this case, given the benefits of this program, the earmarking is fully justified. Increasing public participation in city elections, as well as providing a way of financing campaigns for city office that reduces (hopefully eliminates!) the role of a small group of big funders, are well worth the slightly reduced flexibility for budgeting.
Hi I'm Lorcan and I am a resident of Oakland. I support the Oakland Fair Elections Act. We need to strengthen Oakland's democracy and enable our local elected representatives to be accountable to the community, not money. Vote YES!
Hello, my name is Jocelyn 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 hella hard, and elected officials need to work hella 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.
This is a critical measure to strengthen Oakland's democracy. With fairer elections that engage Oaklanders more, we'll be able to get more done in Oakland. At a time when SCOTUS and Congress are chipping away at voting rights and other bedrocks of democracy, it's even more important that we shore up our local elections. We need to create transparency in who funds Oakland elections, equip every Oaklander with the resources to support community-based candidates, and extend the ban on lobbying by former city officials, among the other reforms this measure includes. The Oakland Fair Elections Act has been carefully vetted with ethics experts, election and democracy experts, councilmembers, and Oakland residents. Please vote to put this measure on the November ballot.
Oakland needs a public financing option for our elections. I support the Oakland Fair Elections Act and urge the Council to put this on our November ballot. This measure would give voters $25 vouchers to voters so they can support candidates. It will engage voters in our local government as well as provide funds for candidates who might not otherwise be able to afford to run. It also increases transparency and strengthens lobbying regulations. Please vote to put this measure on the ballot.
As a resident of D5 in Oakland, I strongly support this measure. This is an important tool for supporting voter engagement and participation in our elections, diminishing the influence of a small number of big donors, and increasing the accessibility of running for office to a more diverse pool of candidates. The measure is supported by a strong coalition of community organizations and groups working to strengthen our democracy. Please vote to put this measure on the November ballot.
Please put this on the ballot. Oakland residents need a way to support candidates that represent us. This would go a long way towards strengthening our democracy.
As an Oakland resident, I support putting campaign finance reform on the ballot this November. I want to see more equal access to elections in my city.
I again urge you to put this on the ballot for the November election. This will provide a way to increase public participation in city government. It does require a very small earmark of the city budget. In this case, given the benefits of this program, the earmarking is fully justified. Increasing public participation in city elections, as well as providing a way of financing campaigns for city office that reduces (hopefully eliminates!) the role of a small group of big funders, are well worth the slightly reduced flexibility for budgeting.