A divided Wichita City Council voted Tuesday to approve new restrictions for campaign financing in city elections.
The Council approved an ordinance changing sections of the city’s campaign finance laws, to prohibit candidates from accepting political contributions from domestic or foreign corporations or limited liability companies (LLCs). Violation would be a misdemeanor with a fine up to $2,500 and six months in jail.
Other entities, such as sole proprietorships, professional associations, partnerships and political action committees would continue to be allowed to make contributions.
The vote to approve the change was 4-3, with Council members Becky Tuttle, Bryan Frye and Jeff Blubaugh voting no. Tuttle said the change could make campaign contributions less transparent, and it could open the potential for an LLC to give money to other people who would then give it to campaigns. She said the city has state law and an ethics policy in place and there’s no need for another layer of government in the process. Frye said this could result in money going to PACs and other organizations and it will be harder to track who is donating to a candidate.
Vice mayor Mike Hoheisel raised concerns about undue influence by LLCs. He said America and democracy have been based on a debate of ideas with the best ideas moving forward, and if there’s an overabundance of money that goes to one side, that “drowns out the true purpose of America.”
