The Seattle City Council actually does something decent.
The Seattle City Council approved new campaign finance rules today. Under the changes, candidates for local office can’t roll over campaign funds from one election to the next and can’t start fundraising until Jan. 1 of the year before an election.
Vote was 7-2 with Council President Sally Clark and Councilmember Tom Rasmussen voting no.
Council members said they took the steps to limit the influence of money on local elections and reduce the amount of time that elected officials are fundraising at the same time they’re making policy.
They’ve still given themselves the chance to transfer their money into their next election, because of course they did. But over the long run, this is a positive step to getting good challengers who aren’t scared off by the large piles of money in the incumbent’s war chests.
I’m confused. If they can’t rollover money raised from one election into the next (as stated in the quote from the article), how can they transfer their money into their next election (as stated in the commentary to the article)?
@1, There’s a 30 day window after the law is signed where they can still roll over the money into a new campaign.