Aurora still debating campaign finance rules

An Aurora City Council committee decided Friday not to tweak proposed campaign finance rules until all aldermen have had a chance to give their input.

The group debated a proposal by Mayor Tom Weisner that would 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 be capped at donations of $3,000 -- $1,500 for the primary and $1,500 for the general election.

The mayor's proposal would "level the playing field among various candidates as well as still looking to allow local businesses, many of whom do business with the city, to participate in the political process and not restrict that unduly as well as provide the public with … one more level of confidence in the process," said Carie Anne Ergo, Weisner's assistant chief of staff.

If a candidate exceeds the personal funding limit, businesses would then be allowed to contribute $15,000.

However, Third Ward Alderman Stephanie Kifowit, who is a candidate for mayor, said the issues of personal funding and business donations should be separate and companies should be held to the original limits without exception.

Fourth Ward Alderman Rick Lawrence, who also is running for mayor, has put forward a proposal similar to Weisner's but at this time the council will only be debating the mayor's.

Lawrence's proposal does not place a limit on personal spending. Friday, he said the $20,000 in Weisner's proposal is too low and called it "a farce."

"If you set a limit at $20,000 for personal investments into campaigns this ordinance is designed to fail … because you will force people out of the system to go find money elsewhere," Lawrence said.

But Second Ward Alderman Juany Garza said she is afraid of the amount being any higher.

"I think the most important thing here is any candidate has to get in touch with the people," she said. "I don't think it's right to spend so much money even if constituents don't know you. What's more important is to knock on doors and talk to the constituents."

Lawrence also feels the $500 penalty in the proposal is too low and he and Kifowit agree there needs to be a better process in place to handle violations instead of going straight to court.

"(Weisner's proposal) does not spell out who is going to be reviewing all the information, who is reviewing the election information and who is going to make the determination if there is a violation or if there is not," said Kifowit, who has been pushing for a third-party ethics board.

After an hour of debate Friday, Garza and Seventh Ward Alderman Scheketa Hart-Burns voted to send Weisner's proposal as is to the committee of the whole for more debate before they make any alterations. Kifowit was the lone "no" vote. Lawrence is not on the committee so he did not vote.

The city's committee of the whole will discuss the proposal when it meets at 5 p.m. Tuesday at city hall, 44 E. Downer Place.