Portland Leaders Pursue Familiar But 'Tougher' Campaign Finance System

Portland leaders are working to establish public financing of election campaigns, almost six years after voters overturned a similar program.

Portland Commissioner Amanda Fritz’ office is working to reduce the role of wealthy donors in city elections through a new campaign finance system.

Her draft proposal includes a number of goals, including increasing the role of "small donors," shifting candidates' focus from seeking big donations to "connecting with Portlanders from all sort of backgrounds," and making it easier for "everyday Portlanders" to run for office. It also seeks to crack down on what the proposal calls "shadowy 'independent expenditure' coordination."

The draft proposal suggests creating a system that's similar in concept to Portland's old "voter-owned election" system, which offered thousands in campaign dollars to candidates who could show support by gathering hundreds of $5 donations. That system helped Fritz reach office, but it ended after at least one candidate abused the rules.

Fritz' draft proposal "makes sure that candidates can win by relying on small donations from a broad base of voters they wish to represent," rather than having to drum up big donations from "a few wealthy donors."

But the proposal also attempts to differentiate itself from the system in place from 2005 to 2010.

Related: Open Government Groups Push For Changes In Portland Elections

"It's stronger. We have tougher penalties and better enforcement," the proposal states. Further, the proposal said "it's tested" and "up to date."

Fritz’ new effort emphasizes oversight with a new commission and audits. It suggests creating "an independent non-partisan commission ... responsible for making recommendations and adjustments to improve the system."

Those changes would take city budget reality into account, and could be influenced by how other campaign systems work in other parts of the country. The proposal points to "matching programs" in New York City and Maine as examples.

The system also calls for "routine audits" and tough penalties — up to $10,000 for candidates who break the rules.

A lobbying report released this week showed staffers with Fritz' office, Commissoner Steve Novick and Mayor Charlie Hales have spent months discussing campaign finance with open government organizations, including Common Cause, Every Voice and the Sightline Institute. The proposal also mentions OSPIRG as a "community contact" in developing the proposal.