Portland City Hall Wants Feedback on Clean Election Ordinance at Upcoming Workshops or via Email.:.

The Portland City Council is seeking feedback during a workshop on Monday, March 13, 6:00 – 8:00 pm on the development of a Clean Elections Ordinance.

This feedback is sought following voter adoption last November of Question 3, to “Approve the Charter Modifications Recommended by the Charter Commission Relating to Clean Elections.”  A second workshop will be held on Monday,  March 27th.  This item  is expected to be before the Council for a final vote in April of  2023.

This Charter modification will take effect on July 1, 2023 and be applicable to the November 2023 election.  The Council must establish the clean elections fund by ordinance and fully fund a city of Portland Clean Election Fund.  It must also establish an ordinance prohibiting foreign contributions and promulgate rules to address compliance and enforcement of the same.

The public is welcome to submit written comments to:  publiccomment@portlandmaine.gov by Friday, March 10 at 5:00 pm if they are not able to make the March 13 workshop.

City staff estimates that it will cost $290,000. to administer this initiative and provide public campaign funds for qualifying candidates.  However, the true cost of this initiative will depend on the structure of the ordinance adopted by the Council and the number of eligible candidates in any given election cycle.  Funds will be administered by the City Clerk.  She is also required to establish a searchable, online and publicly-accessible database of the information included in all registrations and campaign finance reports.