By Julian Johnson
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
A Baltimore County bipartisan group has proposed a public financing system for council and executive election campaigns that would encourage candidates to limit how much money they raise from private donors.
In a report that was issued to county officials on Sept. 30, the Fair Election Fund Work Group recommended that taxpayers provide up to $750,000 in matching funds for county executive races and $80,000 for council campaigns.
To qualify for campaign financing, candidates would have to agree to a $250 limit on how much money they can take from individual donors. The report also specifies that candidates could only receive matching funds on donations that come from county residents.
In addition, all candidates would have to agree to limit the amount they contribute to their own campaign to $12,000.
“The Baltimore county executive and county council should move swiftly to finalize legislation to establish a fair election program so county residents can all have a voice in local government,” said Emily Scarr, president of the Maryland PIRG and a member of the work group. “This bipartisan effort has been a long time coming, and we are eager to bring it over the finish line.”
Baltimore County is following four other jurisdictions in creating a public financing system for local elections. Montgomery, Howard, and PG counties and Baltimore City are in various stages of implementing campaign financing systems.
The state of Maryland has had public financing for gubernatorial candidates since the 1970’s. Gov. Larry Hogan was the first winning candidate to use the state system in the 2014 gubernatorial election, the report said.
If the working group’s proposal is adopted by the council, candidates for Baltimore County executive would receive up to $600 in matching funds for an individual contribution of up to $150 from a private donor. Council candidates would receive $450 in matching funds for that same $150 individual contribution.
Any money donated by an individual over the $150 threshold would not be matched with public campaign financing dollars.
The campaign limits on individual donations and the amount of matching funds that would be provided are similar to the systems used in Montgomery and Howard counties.
The report recommends that public financing only be provided to serious candidates, which is defined as those who raise a minimum of $40,000 from 500 individuals in county executive campaigns and $10,000 from 125 individuals for county council races.
“We are excited for this fair election campaign,” Common Cause Executive Director Joanne Antoinne said. “It’s a great opportunity for the public to weigh in during election campaigns and I hope this changes the average of people to run for these political positions.”
In November 2020, voters approved a charter amendment that allows the county to adopt a public campaign financing system for the council and county executive.
County Executive Johnny Olszewski appointed the seven-member work group last April to develop a proposal for how such a system would work. The group, which is chaired by Council member Julian E. Jones Jr., D-District 4, spent the last six months studying campaign finance systems used in other Maryland jurisdictions before writing its report.
The group’s report now goes to the Olszewski, who will likely draft a proposal for the council to consider over the next few months.
“I expect the county executive will submit this report to the council as an administration bill,” said Baltimore County Council member David Marks, R-District 5, a member of the work group. “My prediction is the bill will be introduced after the year ends.”