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REPRINTED FROM THENEXTMAYOR.COMApril 18, 2007 press release, (submitted via e-mail) |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Zachary Stalberg
President and CEO
(215) 557-3600, ext. 106
(267)241-1628 (cell)
PHILADELPHIA – April 18, 2007 – The Committee of Seventy today praised yesterday’s ruling by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court maintaining Philadelphia’s campaign finance ordinance for the May 15th primary. Seventy filed an amicus brief in support of the Commonwealth Court’s April 2nd decision upholding the constitutionality of the ordinance. The organization also participated as an amicus in the Commonwealth Court case.
“Seventy has consistently maintained that removing the limits would result in a fundraising frenzy,” said Zack Stalberg, Seventy’s President and CEO, citing the competitiveness of the Democratic primary and the exorbitant cost of television advertising. “While Seventy would have much preferred to have the matter settled for the duration of this election year, at least the high Court understood the danger of opening the doors to an unrelenting campaign for dollars that would have consumed the candidates during the remaining days before the primary election.”
Stalberg acknowledged that Seventy has taken some heat for defending the contribution limits. “Our mission is to safeguard the integrity of the election process,” Stalberg explained. “We view holding the line on raising funds as a critical safeguard against a return to the City’s time-honored pay-to-play culture. You can’t change the rules every time a wealthy candidate decides to run.”
With the exception of millionaire Tom Knox, Stalberg observed that the other Democratic mayoral hopefuls have been raising and spending money according to the same contribution limits. In a recent op-ed in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Stalberg called upon Knox to voluntarily cap spending on his campaign.
“I have every confidence that, after reviewing the case following the primary, the Supreme Court will affirm the Commonwealth Court’s decision that the limits are permissible,” Stalberg concluded.
The Committee of Seventy is a non-partisan organization conducting a permanent campaign to improve the Philadelphia region by demanding ethical conduct of public officials, safeguarding elections, promoting government efficiency and educating citizens.
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