Naperville council narrowly approves new campaign donation disclosure rule

Naperville elected officials voted into office in the coming spring and beyond will be required to disclose campaign contributions of more than $750 if the donor later becomes an interested party in a matter considered by the council.

Concerns of unintended consequences and logistical chaos were narrowly outweighed Tuesday by supporters' beliefs that the ethics code amendment would improve transparency and better track possible conflicts of interest. The policy change proposed by Councilwoman Theresa Sullivan was approved with a 5-4 council vote.

Though state law already requires political candidates to report their campaign donations, Sullivan said, the new rule ensures the public is aware of any prior financial support by a petitioner, a petitioner's agents or public participants in a council agenda item - including speakers for or against an issue.

The ordinance applies only to campaign contributions that were accepted during the most recent campaign cycle, starting with the April 6 municipal election.

"It doesn't solve every ethical conflict that exists," Sullivan said. "What it does do - and I think this is what makes it powerful and important - is it provides a path to greater trust from a weary public. This clear, concise and easily auditable rule provides a road map for council and our constituents to know what they can expect from us."

Mayor Steve Chirico and council members Paul Hinterlong, Patty Gustin and Kevin Coyne opposed the measure, saying it attempts to solve a problem that doesn't exist. They said they fear the policy change would discourage voter and community participation in the election process, drive outside money and influence to local races, and deepen the town's partisan divide.

Questions also were raised over how council members can be expected to remember each donor who later addresses the dais, or what happens if they forget to disclose that information.

In his last two quarterly reports, Chirico said, he counted more than 35 donations of $1,000 or more - a list he'd have to run through every time a vote is taken.

"I think that might be a slippery slope," Gustin said. "Is this going to be a tool in the future, potentially, to censure someone or to call someone out on something if, in fact, they made an innocent mistake?"

In reality, Sullivan said, a majority of candidates at the municipal level don't receive an abundance of donations higher than $500, which was the initial threshold proposed before council members agreed Tuesday to raise it to $750. Having worked with staff members on the ordinance for more than a year, she believes it would come into effect only a few times a year.

Though the rule change may scare off potential donors or lead to an uncomfortable situation, Sullivan said, its goal is not to shame elected leaders but rather to "hold ourselves to a higher standard of accountability."

While acknowledging potential enforcement challenges, Councilman Benny White said he supports the spirit of the policy as a way to build public trust.

Councilman Patrick Kelly said the ordinance is a simple, worthwhile way for Naperville officials to set a good example for other governmental entities.

Tuesday's vote also directed staff members to make the state campaign contribution reports for each council member accessible via the Naperville website.