“Shall the city Charter be amended to regulate political fund raising and expenditures in City elections?”

What it’s really asking:

Should we limit individual and PAC contributions to city council candidates to $100?

Do you agree that no candidate shall accept an aggregate contribution total of more than $15,000 per election, and $10,000 in the case of a runoff election, from sources other than natural persons eligible to vote in Austin?

Do you agree that a small donor political committee — meaning one which has accepted no more than $25 from any contributor during any calendar year, has had at least 100 contributors, has been in existence at least six months, and has never been controlled by a candidate — shall not contribute more than $1000 per candidate per election?

Should we prohibit expenditures by corporations, associations, and labor unions for the purpose of supporing or opposing a ballot item or placing an item on the ballot by petition?

This article appears in October 10 • 1997 and October 10 • 1997 (Cover).

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