A federal district court ruled late Wednesday that two rules governing how candidates for Austin office handle campaign funds violate the First Amendment. The ruling came after Council member Don Zimmerman filed a lawsuit challenging the city’s campaign finance rules last year. In a release from his lawyer, Zimmerman said, “We are examining our further […]
Campaign Finance
Posted inElections
To the limit: how Austin caps campaign finance
Candidates for the five City Council districts scouting for new or incumbent leadership filed their first campaign finance reports Friday. And while we’re still in the very initial months of fundraising, some races have begun to resemble the tale of David and Goliath – financially speaking, that is. While Council Member Don Zimmerman’s competition for […]
Posted inElections
Why a little line on campaign websites might make a candidate look like a cheater
Natalie Gauldin’s backyard plays by its own rules. The grass tickles our calves and her almost 3-year-old daughter has left some toys scattered around. Dogs bark at us from inside her house in Austin’s District 7. But all these distractions, we tune out. We’re here to talk about one sentence on her campaign website. “‘This […]
Posted inCity Hall
Council to consider dark money ordinance
Independent political groups that spend money to influence elections will be required to disclose much more about themselves and their donors if City Council approves a proposed ordinance. At a Council work session on Tuesday, Assistant City Attorney Cynthia Tom told Council members that the ordinance she had helped craft with the Office of the […]
Posted inElections
Uber, Lyft reveal how deep their pockets go
Uber and Lyft have disrupted all previously held notions of what is normal for campaign finance in Austin after making jaw-dropping contributions to a political action committee fighting for friendlier regulations of the corporations’ ride-hailing services. Thirty days ahead of the May 7 election on Proposition 1, Ridesharing Works for Austin filed a finance report […]
Posted inCity Hall
Council mulls changes to campaign finance rules
Austin City Clerk Jannette Goodall has come up with a list of proposed changes to the city’s rules governing campaign finance reports. She says the changes will make electronic filing “easier and more transparent.” Goodall and Bob Guz, who heads an effort to implement a City Council mandate to create a publicly accessible database for campaign […]
Posted inCourts
Both sides satisfied as campaign finance trial ends
Federal Judge Lee Yeakel gave no indication of how he might rule at the end of the trial on Tuesday. But he told the lawyers involved in City Council Member Don Zimmerman’s lawsuit against the city of Austin over its campaign finance laws that, regardless of his ruling, it was unlikely to be the last […]
Posted inCourts
City campaign law on trial in federal court
On Monday, during the first day of trial in City Council Member Don Zimmerman’s suit against the city, the District 6 Council member told federal Judge Lee Yeakel that his First Amendment rights are being violated by Austin’s campaign finance laws. Zimmerman explained that he needs to start raising money as soon as possible for […]
Posted inElections
Adler proposes dark money ordinance
Mayor Steve Adler, who was the subject of dark money attacks during his campaign for mayor in 2014, is proposing an ordinance to deal with the problem. Members of the City Council Audit and Finance Committee discussed the matter Wednesday and voted unanimously to forward Adler’s resolution to the full Council for its consideration. That […]
Posted inCourts
Zimmerman suit could undo campaign finance law
City Council Member Don Zimmerman, who plans to run for re-election in 2016, has filed suit in federal court against the city of Austin, seeking to overturn four important provisions of the city’s campaign finance rules. If he wins, the changes would have an immediate and lasting impact on how elections are conducted and financed […]
Posted inAustin, City Council
Adler, Tovo still have heavy debt to themselves
Mayor Steve Adler reported Wednesday that his campaign still owes him more than $418,315. Adler’s campaign finance report indicates that he paid himself back $31,077 in January. However, the campaign has no money remaining to repay the rest. Other mayors in the same situation, such as former Mayor Lee Leffingwell, have relied on fundraising after […]
Posted inAustin, City Council
Casar finance report shows new supporters
District 4 City Council Member Greg Casar, who is locked in a legal battle with his former opponent, Laura Pressley, raised $35,785 to help pay legal expenses between Jan. 1 and June 30. Casar’s report, filed Wednesday, shows a wide range of support, even from people and organizations who did not contribute to his campaign […]