DATE: November 3, 2015
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Attorney and City Clerk
SUBJECT: Regulations Requiring Greater Disclosure of Contributors to City Measures and Recalls, and Clarification of Loans Candidates Make to Their Own Campaigns
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council introduces an ordinance repealing Sections 2-13.00 to 2-13.07 of the Hayward Municipal Code; and adding a new Chapter 2, Article 13, to the Hayward Municipal Code regarding greater disclosure of major contributors to City measures and recall campaigns, and clarifying loans candidates make to their campaigns.
SUMMARY
The proposed ordinance, if enacted, would require campaigns in support of or opposition to City measures and recalls of the Mayor or members of the City Council to prominently display the names of contributors on campaign communications, as defined in the ordinance. The proposed ordinance, if enacted, would also clarify that candidates for mayor or City Council are permitted to loan funds to their own campaigns without such loans being defined as contributions.
BACKGROUND
On June 16, 2015, the City Council conducted a work session to consider possible regulations requiring greater disclosure of contributors to candidates for mayor and City Council, as well as contributors to campaigns in support of or in opposition to measures. The Council also discussed the regulations which define loans candidates make to their own campaigns as contributions. As a result of the work session, direction was given to prepare updated regulations which would accomplish the following:
1. Require campaigns by independent political action committees in support of or in opposition to candidates, measures, and recalls to disclose the four top contributors on campaign communications such as mailers, television commercials, e-mails, flyers, door hangers, and Internet advertising;
2. Require that independent committees disclose all spon...
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