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Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Questions Concerning Campaign Contributions

We've had a lot of questions come in today concerning who can contribute to a candidate. The following information comes directly from the City of Salisbury Charter Section 1.12.030. We hope this answers your questions.

1.12.030 Campaign contributions.

A. No candidate for mayor or for member of the city council shall receive campaign contributions in excess of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) per individual or entity per campaign in cash and/or in-kind services of a commercial nature. The two hundred fifty dollar ($250.00) amount is a total for both the primary and general election.

Anyone living anywhere can contribute to the candidate of their choice.

B. The contributions or loans of a candidate or the candidate’s spouse to the candidate’s own campaign are not subject to the limitations of Subsections A and C of this section, but must pass through the hands of the candidate’s treasurer and be reported as required in other provisions of this chapter. Personal expenses of the candidate for filing fees, telegrams, telephoning, travel and board, shall not be considered contributions if paid for by the candidate or the candidate’s spouse.

C. No loan may be made to the campaign of a candidate or accepted on behalf of the campaign, without express written consent of the candidate. Written consent constitutes the personal guaranty of the candidate for repayment of the loan, only if it expressly so provides. The aggregate amount of all outstanding loans to the campaign of a candidate shall not exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00) for both the primary and general election. A loan shall not be forgiven in an amount in excess of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00). Subsection B of this section is an exclusion to the requirements of this subsection.

D. Contributions of such in-kind services of a commercial nature shall be valued at a rate commensurate with the cost of purchasing similar materials or services.

E. All campaign contributions shall be received by the date of the general election. Any campaign contributions received after the date of the general election shall be returned to the contributor. (Ord. 1749 (part), 2000)

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

This means that Paul Wilber's law partner who has already contributed can donate even more money to Bubba's campaign. Wanna bet it happens to the max?

Anonymous said...

Bubba:

Looks like you won't be getting any more from Barrie and Mat Tilghman. Better call your buddy T. J. Baloney to tap all the landlords in SAPOA.

Anonymous said...

This is really no problem for Comegys -- he will get huge funds from businesses and the Chamber of Commerce crowd.

Anonymous said...

Then we have to get Jim some funds to fight back.

Anonymous said...

ake contributions to campbell, too. You can do it on her web site www.campbell4council.net
It is likely that Boad will try to create a public appearance of running for "change" with Jim when his own remarks tie him tightly to Comegys, meaning that no matter how loudly he protests now that the primary results are in also ties him to the rubber stamp group of Smith and Shields. Campbell has stood alone when she's had to in the interest of what is good for Salisbury. Now that we have an opportunity to continue the change that she was corageous to start we need to stand with her.

Dave C said...

ANON 2:18,

Jim doesn't need to out fund anybody-he'll win simply because he is a better candidate. I Gary should have just dropped out and donated his contributors' money to charity...

Anonymous said...

Without money your dead in the water. Money buys visibility.

Anonymous said...

3:26:

According to Lennon & MaCartney --

I don't care too much for money
For money can't buy me love

Anonymous said...

The Beetles suck. They always did.

Anonymous said...

The Beetles suck. They always did.

4:55 PM


Maybe that group did but NOT the group called ..The Beatles!

Anonymous said...

No, Dave, 3:26 is right: Without money, you can't send out mailers, you can't print brochures to give to people, and you can't advertise to reach out to more voters. Money = Visibility

Campaigns run on money, and Jim needs more to fight the illegal 'under the table' funding he's about to receive from SAPOA. Donate online at his website:

friendsofjimireton.com/donate