Q&A
Debate over necessity of campaign finance audits for non-participating candidates
1:31:43
·
3 min
Council Member Carr questions the necessity of conducting audits for campaigns that don't receive matching funds. Executive Director Paul Seamus Ryan defends the practice, citing broader mandates and the importance of transparency.
- Carr suggests audits may be unnecessary when no matching funds are involved
- Ryan argues audits ensure fair playing field between participants and non-participants
- Discussion touches on enforcement of contribution limits and spending transparency
- Carr expresses interest in further dialogue on the topic
David M. Carr
1:31:43
Appreciate it.
1:31:44
Chair, if I could just have another minute.
1:31:47
For this campaign finance board, I just wanna, second what my colleague, council member Schulman, was saying about differentiating, you know, how we approach audits or auditing at all for different campaigns.
1:32:01
And I know, you know, for campaigns that don't receive matching funds, right, there's not the audit of qualified expenditures that takes place.
1:32:08
But, you know, when you were last here, I had asked about the notion of why do an audit at all when no matching funds are at play, in a given campaign.
1:32:18
You know, the the Campaign Finance Act empowers the board to be stewards of the taxpayer dollars in these campaigns, but if no money's being distributed, why go through an audit at all?
1:32:30
And I understand the law requires it, but why not support a change that would remove that responsibility from you and therefore reduce the workload of the of the board?
Paul Seamus Ryan
1:32:40
With with respect, I think our mandate is broader than simply ensuring good use of taxpayer dollars in the public financing program.
1:32:48
Our mandate is to ensure that all of the campaign finance laws, the full scope of the city's campaign finance laws that apply both to nonparticipants and participants alike, are effectively enforced.
1:32:54
And that's important because, case of candidates who opt in are subject to a bunch of laws and candidates who are not have no oversight and run rough shot over applicable laws.
1:33:19
Audits are our way of ensuring that it's a fair playing field between participants and nonparticipants, like all candidates.
David M. Carr
1:33:25
No.
1:33:25
Understood.
1:33:25
But I I I don't think you need an audit to enforce, whether or not someone received an over the limit contribution.
1:33:32
Right?
1:33:32
You're gonna know that upfront.
1:33:34
There are other election agencies who enforce those kinds of laws without there being a matching fund system.
1:33:39
So I guess I'm just what I'm asking about is why a post election audit, not the statement reviews that require you to document, you know, what you're doing or to indicate the that you're complying with general rules like contribution limits and and the like.
1:33:56
It's really the audit's really about whether the whether the matching fund system is being adhered to, post election.
Paul Seamus Ryan
1:34:04
I think it's also about whether campaigns actually spent what they said they spent on what they said they spent it on, for example.
1:34:12
That's a big part of audit process.
1:34:14
And the US Supreme Court has said, at least since 1976, that voters have a first amendment right, a compelling constitutional right to knowing how much money candidates are raising and spending in elections, how they're spending that money, that it influences how voters make their decisions in the voting booth.
1:34:31
I think the audit support that goal as well.
1:34:33
I think transparency is an important goal, and the audit support transparency of all of the money that flows through campaigns, both fundraising and spending.
1:34:42
And I don't think, I think an audit is necessary, varying degrees, but an audit of some sort is necessary to confirm that candidates are spending money and raising money the way that they are saying they are, the backup paperwork.
1:34:54
Understood.
1:34:54
Well, I think it's something worth talking about, but I appreciate
David M. Carr
1:34:55
your answer.
1:34:55
Chair, thank you.
1:34:56
Thanks so much, council member Carr.
1:34:58
Council member Hanif.
1:34:59
Thank you.
1:35:00
Thanks for being here.
