Ulster County, NY Clean Money, Clean Election System

Type: Resolution
Status: Adopted on 10/6/05
Vote: In Favor - 31 Opposed - 0 Absent - 2
Source File: http://www.co.ulster.ny.us/resolution-archives/2005/292-05.pdf
Text:
Resolution No. 292
Supporting The Creation Of A Clean Money, Clean Election System In New York State – New York State Senate Bill No. 02401 And New York State Assembly Bill No. 005506
WHEREAS, the Clean Money Clean Elections bill, New York Senate Bill No.
02401 and New York State Assembly Bill No. 05506, creating a public fund for
candidates who refuse private money in their campaigns for statewide offices, has
been introduced in the New York State Legislature, and
WHEREAS, Clean Money Clean Elections would enhance democracy by
eliminating the influence of money in the political process, removing access to
wealth as a major determinant of a citizen’s influence in the political process, and
restoring the principle of “one person, one vote”, and
WHEREAS, Clean Money Clean Elections would level the playing field to
give qualified citizens without access to big money a fair chance at winning office
based on their ideas and integrity rather than how much money they can raise, and
WHEREAS, Clean Money Clean Elections would stop the endless money
chase so that candidates are free of the constant need to raise money and those
elected have more time to serve the public interest rather than constantly raising
funds for their next campaign, and
WHEREAS, Clean Money Clean Elections would reduce the escalating costs
of elections, and
WHEREAS, successful Clean Money, Clean Elections systems have been
implemented in the States of Arizona, Maine, North Carolina, New Mexico, Vermont
and New Jersey and the City of Portland, Oregon, and
WHEREAS, the City of New York currently uses some public funding of
campaigns for city offices, and
WHEREAS, polls show an overwhelming majority of citizens support public
financing of campaigns so long as the candidates abide by spending limits and do not
accept any private donations, and
WHEREAS, transparency is needed in all aspects of campaign finance.
RESOLVED, the Ulster County Legislature urges the New York State
Legislature to enact the Clean Money Clean Elections Bill, New York State Senate
Bill No. 02401 and New York State Assembly Bill No. 05506, into law in order to
break the hold big money interests have over the electoral and legislative processes
of government and restore the democratic principle of one person, one vote, and
FURTHER RESOLVED, the Ulster County Legislature shall have its General
Services/Community Services Committee, in coordination with the Ulster County
Board of Elections, examine the feasibility of implementing a local clean money
clean elections system and report back to the body by June of 2006, and
FURTHER RESOLVED, that all county candidates financial disclosure
statements be posted on the Ulster County website, and
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Clerk of the Ulster County Legislature shall
forward copies of this resolution to Governor George E. Pataki, Comptroller Alan
Hevesi, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, Senate Minority Leader David A.
Paterson, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Assembly Majority Leader Paul A.
Tokasz, Assembly Minority Leader Charles Nesbitt, New York State Senators John J.
Bonacic and William J. Larkin, Jr., New York State Assemblymen Kevin Cahill,
Clifford Crouch, Daniel Hooker and Thomas Kirwan, the New York State
Association of Counties, and all other County Legislatures in the State of New York,
and moves its adoption.
Category:Campaign Finance
Category:County Governments
Category:New York
Category:Resolutions