Public Financing in Seattle Wayne Barnett, Executive Director Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission

Brief Overview: Seattle’s Form of Government Eleven elected officials Mayor Nine at-large City councilmembers City Attorney Four-year terms All full-time positions Population: Approximately 585,000 Registered Voters: Approximately 387,000 Act I: Seattle Experiments with Public Financing – 1979 to 1991

Act I: Seattle’s Early Experiment with Public Financing – 1979 to 1991 Expenditure Limits Match of up to $50 for contribution from individual City resident Upheld by the State Supreme Court as permissible use of public funds Popular with candidates – Nine of ten general election candidates in 1991 participated in the program Program cost $330,000 in 1989 and $250,000 in 1991 ($565,000 and $390,000 adjusted for inflation)

Act II: The long winter – 1992 to 2008 In 1992, State voters enacted Initiative 134, which among other things barred public financing. “Public funds, whether derived through taxes, fees, penalties, or any other sources, shall not be used to finance political campaigns for state or local office.” City unsuccessfully fought for right to reinstate program for sixteen years.

2003 City Council Fundraising Heidi Wills 258,118 Margaret Pageler 223,766 Tom Rasmussen 209,168 Judy Nicastro 170,456 Jean Godden 153,762 David Della 156,985 Peter Steinbrueck 133,756 Jim Compton 111,903 John Manning 18,401 Zander Batchelder 1,337

2005 City Council Fundraising Richard Conlin 269,939 Jan Drago 253,577 Paige Miller 236,817 Dwight Pelz 232,563 Casey Corr 231,993 Richard McIver 214,627 Nick Licata 103,001 Paul Bascomb 7,468

2007 City Council Fundraising Tim Burgess 353,397 Bruce Harrell 290,077 David Della 261,226 Venus Velazquez 244,864 Jean Godden 227,560 Tom Rasmussen 201,795 Councilmember Rasmussen ran unopposed. Sally Clark 176,745 Joe Szwaja 96,025 Judy Fenton 6,199

Act III: New Life for Public Financing 2008 – State legislature repeals bar on local public financing, but Requires public vote before adoption of program.

New Life for Public Financing 2008 – Council and Mayor create nine-member advisory committee to examine issue Short time-frame – possibility of going to the ballot in 2008 Six members recommend Arizona or Maine-like program, with “super match” as a fallback option.

What’s the hold-up? Median housing price down 20 percent from peak and still falling Seattle metropolitan area unemployment rate at 8.8 percent and climbing. Up from 4.1 percent in February 2008 Budget shortfall of more than $40M projected for both 2009 and 2010; $80M hole to plug Furloughs, layoffs, cuts in services

Voter-Owned Election Design – City Council and City Attorney To qualify, candidate must secure 1,000 signatures and $10,000 in donations of $10 increments. City provides $140,000 for primary election. Qualifying candidate may access $30,000 of these funds prior to having an opponent. City provides $100,000 in public funds for the general election. Candidate must agree to spend no more than $250,000. Matching funds available when privately or self-financed candidate exceeds the expenditure cap, or when a group makes independent expenditures.

Voter-Owned Election Design – Mayoral races To qualify, candidate must secure 1,500 signatures and $15,000 in donations of $10 increments. City provides $435,000 for primary election. Qualifying candidate may access $105,000 of these funds prior to having an opponent. City provides $300,000 in public funds for the general election. Candidate must agree to spend no more than $750,000. Matching funds when privately or self-financed candidate exceeds the expenditure cap, or when group makes independent expenditures.

Voter-Owned Election Cost Estimates

Supermatch – City Council and City Attorney races

Supermatch – Mayoral Races

Supermatch Cost Estimates

Next steps 2009 – Public outreach. Early 2010 – City Council decides threshold question: What kind of program do we want? Spring 2010 – Design program. Fall 2010 – Put measure to the voters.