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City Election Spending Blasted

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By ELLEN GEDALIUS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 26, 2008

Updated: 02/25/2008 11:48 pm

TAMPA - A city councilman wants to change Tampa's campaign finance laws to help rein in the "ridiculous" spending during municipal elections.
Councilman John Dingfelder would like the city charter amended to limit campaign contributions to the three city council at-large seats at $200 per contributor, per election.

He also wants to limit campaign contributions to candidates for the four district seats to a maximum of $100 per contributor, per election.

The existing limit is $500 for at-large and district seats both.

Dingfelder started talking about campaign finance reform after last year's March city council election. He was embroiled in a particularly nasty race in which he raised about $146,000. His nearest competitor, Julie Brown, raised about $148,000.

Dingfelder estimates the total money raised for the six contested council races totaled about $1.2 million, twice as much as in the 2003 races.

"This is really spiraling out of control," the councilman said. "It's just ridiculous. There's just no good reason for it."

The councilman also wants the city to ban contributions from corporations, allowing them only from individuals. The city's attorneys are reviewing the legality of Dingfelder's proposal.

The city of Sarasota in November passed a law that caps campaign contributions in city commission races to $200 per contributor. Only contributions from individuals are allowed. Years ago, Sarasota County set a $200 contribution limit for county elections.

Dingfelder's proposal is getting mixed reviews.

Randy Baron, a former council candidate, said he likes the idea, and so does the city's neighborhood organization umbrella group, Tampa Homeowners, an Association of Neighborhoods.

"City council races that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars lose perspective over what we're trying to do," said Baron, the group's vice president. He said candidates too often focus on "raising money rather than raising issues."

Councilwoman Mary Mulhern, who won a race despite being outspent by her competitor, also embraces the proposal.

"If it'll work and it'll stand up, it's a great idea," Mulhern said.

Councilman Tom Scott, however, was skeptical. He said candidates do need a certain amount of money - he couldn't say how much - to spend on mailings, phone banks and advertisements.

Dingfelder's plan, he said, "helps the incumbent because they already have name recognition. It hurts the new person trying to get the message out."

To amend the charter, the council would need to pass an ordinance, which would have to be approved by the mayor. Then a referendum would be held in which a majority of voters would need to approve the change.

Reporter Ellen Gedalius can be reached at (813) 259-7679 or egedalius@tampatrib.com.

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