Donations and Ethics

This is one of the areas I’m doing things majorly different. First I’m going to cap my donations. I think for a job that pays $15000 a year it’s just silly to spend tens of thousands to have a winning campaign. Every level of government should be more about ideas and representing people than about candidates supported by the big parties with their big money, but particularly on the city level with its close level of involvement. As much as I need your financial assistance, helping me by talking with your neighbors and in your community is ultimately worth more. It takes real bravery to talk about politics in this country right now, I know that. But we are a city and a country of democracy and if you give your personal endorsement to your friends and neighbors I believe that talk is more valuable than wildly spending money or seeking endorsements by celebrities, local leaders, or well known politicians. For me to run (and hopefully win) the race I want to be in, I’ve decided to cap my total contributions and ask you for less money on your contribution than what is currently regulated by the city. I am asking for a $100 limit per individual and I’m holding my total donations at $5000.

Now here is the real big one. I’m either going to spend every dollar raised in this campaign on this election or I’m going to donate any remaining funds. This makes things quite a bit more difficult in any future election, and is one of the reasons incumbents do so well. Right now we have people sitting on the council with thousands (in some cases tens of thousands) just gathering dust until the next election. I find this presumptuous. I will never assume that support in one election means a lifetime commitment from you or your money. You have every right to change your mind. So any future election will see me again vehemently knocking on doors and earning your support, by both your vote and your money.

There’s a lot of hypocrisy at every level of politics. A candidates will rail against the influence of money and the advantage of incumbents, until they are one. Then, because they are the special one, those means justify the ends of an election won. I’m not that much different- I do think I’ll be the special one when elected and positively impact more people in our city than anyone ever has. I wouldn’t be running if I didn’t believe that. But on the earlier issue I have to be the special one by holding myself to a bigger standard, to tighter restriction, and to my conscience.

In this vein I will also be bucking the traditional mailers. While at the moment it is a bit determined by smart allocation of my funds, should I collect my full donation amount I will not be using these. I will be using as little paper as possible and will be relying on this site, word of mouth, and your willingness to help get the word out over targeted mailers of color post cards with three word slogans and a picture of my face. It may be a foolish decision, every professional politician has told me so, but it is one I have made. I do believe in conservation so I don’t see how I can waste tens of thousands of sheets of paper when I can depend on the internet and my voice. I will be using business cards with this site and its QR code to try to publicize my message. I hope to use as few as possible, but in order to have something to leave at all those doors that don’t open when I knock I do feel it is a smarter and more responsible decision. (and as far as the 3 word slogans… don’t think I’ll use those either. As fun as they are I respect your intelligence too much to think that would make any real difference. Though it was tough not to type “integrity, imagination, innovation” under a picture of me crossing my arms while trying to look austere🤣).

So if you clicked on this expecting another plea for money, I’d hate to disappoint you. Below is more of what is on the home page just as the above is the explanation behind it. Donate or no, I appreciate you taking the time to read this and get to know a little about me. 

*** Please limit your donation to no more than $100 and provide me your name and address for financial reporting purposes in the notes on the transfer. ***

Asking for money is by far the hardest  part of this for me, as I understand how much less money can do right now than a few years ago. Your financial support humbles me. Thank you!