Bill Proposes Amendments To Public Campaign Financing Program

ROCKVILLE, MD — Montgomery County's council on Tuesday introduced a bill aimed at shoring up the county's Public Campaign Financing program.

If passed, Bill 31-20 will change contribution limits, update rules around carryover funds, enact a requirement for an audit after the general election ends and penalize violators, the council said in a news release.

The bill is sponsored by council member Nancy Navarro, council president Sidney Katz and council member Andrew Friedson.

The release states amendments are based on feedback from a public forum and from a survey sent to program participants, non-participants and community groups.

Council member and chair of the Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee Nancy Navarro said the 2018 election cycle proved the fund had a positive impact on local elections and led to more opportunities for residents to run for office.

“The bill introduced by my colleagues and I is based on a robust review of the program, that includes outreach to both participants and non-participants in the program, so that we could have a full understanding of what needs to be done to strengthen the program," Navarro said.

Council president Sidney Katz was participant in the program. He said he understands the program is successful but sees room for improvement.

“These amendments will bolster the effectiveness of the already successful program," Katz said. "It is important to periodically evaluate these types of initiatives and make the required changes to ensure the effectiveness and success of the legislation.”

The Public Campaign Financing program was enacted in 2014 and first used in the 2018 election cycle.

To date, 38 candidates have filed to use public financing, an 23 candidates obtained funding through the program.

The county said it has distributed approximately $5.2 million on campaign financing, of which $4.1 million was spent during the primary election and $1.1 was spent during the general election.

The program led to the county winning an achievement award from the National Association of Counties.

The council is tentatively set to hold a public hearing on Bill 31-20 on September 15 at 1:30 p.m.