3.13.020 - Findings and declarations.
3.13.030 - Purpose of this Act.
This chapter shall be known as the Limited Public Financing Act of the city of Oakland.
(Ord. 12375 (part), 2001: Ord. 12308 (part), 2001)
3.13.020 - Findings and declarations.
The findings of this Act are as follows:
A.
The financial strength of certain individuals or organizations should not enable them to exercise a disproportionate or controlling influence on the election of candidates.
B.
The rapidly increasing costs of political campaigns have forced many candidates to raise larger and larger percentages of money from interest groups with a specific financial stake in matters under consideration by city government. This has caused the public perception that votes are being improperly influenced by monetary contributions.
C.
High campaign costs are forcing officeholders to spend more time on fundraising and less time on the public's business. The constant pressure to raise contributions is distracting officeholders from urgent governmental matters.
(Ord. 12375 (part), 2001: Ord. 12308 (part), 2001)
3.13.030 - Purpose of this Act.
The purpose of this Act is to accomplish the objectives stated in Oakland's Campaign Reform Act as follows:
A.
To ensure that all individuals and interest groups in our city have a fair and equal opportunity to participate in elective and governmental processes.
B.
To reduce the influence of large contributors with a specific financial stake in matters under consideration by the city, and to counter the perception that decisions are influenced more by the size of contributions than by the best interests of the people of Oakland.
C.
To reduce the pressure on candidates to raise large campaign war chests for defensive purposes, beyond the amount necessary to communicate reasonably with voters.
D.
To encourage competition for elective office.
E.
To allow candidates and office holders to spend a smaller proportion of their time on fundraising and a greater proportion of their time dealing with issues of importance to their constituents and the community.
F.
To ensure that serious candidates are able to raise enough money to communicate their views and positions adequately to the public, thereby promoting public discussion of important issues involved in political campaigns.
G.
To help preserve public trust in governmental and electoral institutions.
(Ord. 12375 (part), 2001: Ord. 12308 (part), 2001)