Ulster County, NY Clean Money, Clean Election System

Type: Resolution

Status: Adopted on 10/6/05

Vote: In Favor - 31 Opposed - 0 Absent - 2

Source File: http://www.co.ulster.ny.us/resolution-archives/2005/292-05.pdf

Text:

Resolution No. 292
Supporting The Creation Of A Clean Money, Clean Election System In New York State – New York State Senate Bill No. 02401 And New York State Assembly Bill No. 005506

WHEREAS, the Clean Money Clean Elections bill, New York Senate Bill No. 02401 and New York State Assembly Bill No. 05506, creating a public fund for candidates who refuse private money in their campaigns for statewide offices, has been introduced in the New York State Legislature, and

WHEREAS, Clean Money Clean Elections would enhance democracy by eliminating the influence of money in the political process, removing access to wealth as a major determinant of a citizen’s influence in the political process, and restoring the principle of “one person, one vote”, and

WHEREAS, Clean Money Clean Elections would level the playing field to give qualified citizens without access to big money a fair chance at winning office based on their ideas and integrity rather than how much money they can raise, and

WHEREAS, Clean Money Clean Elections would stop the endless money chase so that candidates are free of the constant need to raise money and those elected have more time to serve the public interest rather than constantly raising funds for their next campaign, and

WHEREAS, Clean Money Clean Elections would reduce the escalating costs of elections, and

WHEREAS, successful Clean Money, Clean Elections systems have been implemented in the States of Arizona, Maine, North Carolina, New Mexico, Vermont and New Jersey and the City of Portland, Oregon, and

WHEREAS, the City of New York currently uses some public funding of campaigns for city offices, and

WHEREAS, polls show an overwhelming majority of citizens support public financing of campaigns so long as the candidates abide by spending limits and do not accept any private donations, and

WHEREAS, transparency is needed in all aspects of campaign finance.

RESOLVED, the Ulster County Legislature urges the New York State Legislature to enact the Clean Money Clean Elections Bill, New York State Senate Bill No. 02401 and New York State Assembly Bill No. 05506, into law in order to break the hold big money interests have over the electoral and legislative processes of government and restore the democratic principle of one person, one vote, and

FURTHER RESOLVED, the Ulster County Legislature shall have its General Services/Community Services Committee, in coordination with the Ulster County Board of Elections, examine the feasibility of implementing a local clean money clean elections system and report back to the body by June of 2006, and

FURTHER RESOLVED, that all county candidates financial disclosure statements be posted on the Ulster County website, and

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Clerk of the Ulster County Legislature shall forward copies of this resolution to Governor George E. Pataki, Comptroller Alan Hevesi, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, Senate Minority Leader David A. Paterson, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Assembly Majority Leader Paul A. Tokasz, Assembly Minority Leader Charles Nesbitt, New York State Senators John J. Bonacic and William J. Larkin, Jr., New York State Assemblymen Kevin Cahill, Clifford Crouch, Daniel Hooker and Thomas Kirwan, the New York State Association of Counties, and all other County Legislatures in the State of New York, and moves its adoption.