A move to change the county's campaign finance disclosure ordinance took a twist Monday when Commissioner Brent Overson proposed his own changes to the law.
Overson says his version is tougher than a revamped ordinance sought by Commissioner Jim Bradley. But the real effect of Overson's last-minute proposal may be to derail action on the county's campaign finance disclosure ordinance this year, while Bradley is still in office.And that, representatives of two public-interest groups say, may mean the reforms get shelved for good. Action on the ordinance was scheduled for Wednesday's commission meeting, but it was questionable that the commission would be able to review it adequately before then.
Overson introduced a "substitute" ordinance Monday as commission staff met to, among other things, discuss the ordinance Bradley wanted the commission to vote on Wednesday.
Overson said his ordinance incorporates most of the changes Bradley sought.
Most important, it requires a report to be filed any time a person or political action committee receives $250, not just when that amount is spent.
But representatives of two public interest groups say Overson's ordinance fails to address items they feel are key.
It allows political action committees to file disclosure forms with the state election office, rather than the county clerk.
Overson's ordinance also is unclear about whether disclosure forms have to be filed in nonelection years.