Is Public Campaign Finance the Key to Detroit's Efforts at Community Engagement?
By: Jacqueline Bejma
As I continue to follow the Detroit Charter Revision Commission at my website, detcharter.com, I am continually presented with new ideas that have the potential to make substantial changes in Detroit city government.
Clearly, Detroiters have spoken clearly - in voting for Council by Districts and a new draft charter - we have said that we want transparent, accountable government that responds to the needs of all people. The Charter Commission has many, many opportunities to put systems in place that will facilitate this desire.
Already, the Commission has accepted the idea of appointing members of the Planning Commission, the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Historical Commission, the Police Commission, the Recreation Commission, the Health Advisory Board, the Transportation Advisory Committee and the Executive Planning Council by districts across the city. Additionally, the Commission has adopted the idea of giving City Council confirmation power over mayoral appointments in the Recreation Commission, HR Director, Economic Development Director, Planning Director and Police Commissioner.
These changes begin to shift the balance of power from the mayor and distribute it more evenly between the Executive and Legislative branches of government. But, the question remains: "Will this work? Will be truly be represented by our government officials? Will Detroiters finally have a voice?"
I believe the key to making districts work is through the assistance of a revamped Community Advisory Council - a proposal that I've submitted to the Commission for Citizen Planning Councils. In crafting this proposal, which you can see in my earlier post, I struggled with how to balance power and representation on the Council, and how to ensure that the citizen members would be "regular people", not just the same people who would get a mayoral appointment or those who have enough money to run a district election (and possible lose, for a relatively unknown office).
This week, the Commission is entertaining a proposal for public financing of elections in the City of Detroit. Executive Director of the Commission, Gregory Hicks, has published a research proposal for the Commissioners recommending "a select supplemental program of public funding of local campaigns administered by Detroit’s Election Commission with oversight by a newly constructed Public Elections and Reporting Commission (Commission). The cornerstone of the work of the new Public Election and Reporting Commission will be to research, discuss and propose a city ordinance or Charter amendment for a series of local laws to regulate lobbyist activity and create a public financing campaign program before the next cycle of municipal elections in 2013".
This could be the key...public financing, particularly for District elections, would allow all of us "regular people" to run for an office like I have proposed with Citizen Planning Councils. While City Council notes that there is little participation in council meetings and contemplates using Skype to engage with community members, a public campaign finance ordinance has the potential to be much more impactful and effective in the long term. |
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