Aurora will not regulate finances

Aurora may one day install campaign finance regulations, but it won't be in time for the 2009 mayoral campaign.

Aldermen voted unanimously Tuesday to send the proposal submitted by Mayor Tom Weisner back to the council's government operations committee, not to be debated again until the following election cycle.

"Talking about campaign finance reform has been extremely popular; however, actually trying to craft ordinances during an election period is very often impacted and colored by individual political views and strategy, whether that's intentional or not," said 10th Ward Alderman Lynda Elmore. "The current ordinance leaves room for individual accusations of inappropriate campaign funding that could be leaked, tried and even convicted by the media. And this produces an unfair playing field for candidates."

The ordinance before the council would have put a $20,000 limit on the amount a candidate could spend of their own personal money when campaigning. In addition, businesses that have or are seeking contracts with the city would have been capped at donations of $3,000 - $1,500 for the primary and $1,500 for the general election.

If a candidate were to exceed the personal funding limit, businesses would have then been allowed to contribute $15,000. The aldermen were never able to finalize the proposal. Still undecided were when it would go into effect and who, if anyone, would oversee the process.

"The ordinance was not ready to leave committee. The rules were not put in and there was never a rush by anybody to push this forward," said 4th Ward Alderman and mayoral candidate Rick Lawrence. "It was never determined when it would be enacted, whether it be after the first of the year or after the next election."

Elmore said she hopes further review of the proposal will first determine whether the city even needs such an ordinance.