More and more money is being spent on elections every year, with a lot of attention this past election on PAC spending and money from outside Las Cruces. The Las Cruces City Council is hoping to make it easier for some candidates to run for office through Public Campaign Financing.
Common Cause New Mexico is proposing a public financing campaign for Las Cruces that calls for matching small campaign donations. Craig Fenske with Common Cause New Mexico says the system would help engage local citizens in the election process.
“The candidate would be obligated to go out and make contacts within his district,” Fenske said. “Or within the city to really talk and work with constituents who would have to contribute to the campaign for a candidate to be successful in raising money. And those conversations, which we would provide incentives for I think is democracy in process.”
Under the plan, donations would be matched 4-1 for donations from $5-$100 for city council races, and from $5-$200 for Mayoral races. The limit for matches in a Mayoral race would be $80,000 and $15,000 for a council race.
Council Candidates could only match donations from within their district, and Mayor's candidates could only match donations within the city. Any donations accepted from outside the city would still have to be under the small donation cap.
Candidates also would be unable to loan themselves money for the campaign, and would be unable to accept money from businesses and organizations.
Common Cause New Mexico is proposing the city set aside $2 per year for each resident in the city, totaling about $200,000 a year.
Nancy Baker, a retired Government Professor from NMSU says research shows public campaign financing leads to better public participation.
“People get more engaged,” Baker said. “And not only do you have more small donors participating, not just the big political action committee's participating, but more small donors from high minority neighborhoods. So your starting to energize part of the community that historically have not been the major donors in these really expensive city council races. And that leads to some really important things. More people get involved, and more people talking to neighbors, it increases public turnout.”
Mayor Ken Miyagishima says public financing will not stop outside or big money donations, but could help political newcomers.
“It helps those who want to serve in government the opportunity,” Miyagishima said. “That may not be able to raise the money, may not have special interests behind them, and I think it gives a little bit of a sense of comfort to the electorate, that hey you know what this person may be pretty good for office.”
Councilor Ceil Levatino says she has concerns with public financing in Las Cruces.
“My major concern is whether it violates a persons first amendment right,” Levatino said. “My vote affects everybody in this city, not just the people that live in my district. And I think it prevents people who don't live in my district from voicing their either support, or non support for me.”
Mayor Ken Miyagishima asked for the item to be placed on a future agenda for a vote.
