Explanation
The purpose of this ordinance is to amend Section 2321.53 of the Columbus City Codes which pertains to the campaign finance disclosure requirements of campaign committees, political action committees, political contributing entities, and political parties that make a contribution to or an expenditure in support of or opposition to a municipal candidate or municipal ballot issue.
Columbus' existing campaign finance disclosure requirements were first enacted in 2003, and amended in 2016, to require additional campaign finance reports and to create an online searchable campaign finance database maintained by the Columbus City Clerk's office.
Since the 2016 amendments went into effect on September 29, 2016, multiple questions have arisen that highlight the need to clarify the language of Section 2321.53 to resolve any ambiguities and to better reflect the intent of Council in enacting the 2016 amendments. This ordinance is not intended to add any additional campaign finance disclosure requirements.
Title
To amend Section 2321.53 of the Columbus City Code, to clarify the language and to resolve any ambiguities relating to campaign finance disclosure requirements.
Body
WHEREAS, Section 2321.53 of the Columbus City Codes establishes campaign finance disclosure requirements for campaign committees, political action committees, political contributing entities, and political parties that make a contribution to or an expenditure in support of or opposition to a municipal candidate or municipal ballot issue; and
WHEREAS, the 2016 amendments to Section 2321.53 created additional campaign finance disclosure requirements and an online searchable campaign finance database to increase transparency in campaign finance and to increase public access to campaign finance reports; and
WHEREAS, in the past year of implementing these campaign finance disclosure requirements questions have arisen about the interpretation of the language of Section 2321.53 that r...
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