Cleveland City Council doubled the limit on the amount of money that donors can give to council campaigns.
Council passed the measure on Monday, the last regular meeting until mid-July. Three members – Charles Slife, Rebecca Maurer and Jenny Spencer – voted against it, while the remaining 14 voted in favor.
During its daylong committee meeting Monday, council members argued the increase was necessary to account for rising costs. Contribution limits were last hiked in 2016.
One member, Ward 1’s Joe Jones, even proposed doing away with contribution limits entirely. The Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision enabled unlimited spending in elections – potentially against candidates like him, Jones said. Plus, if other cities have no contribution limits, then neither should Cleveland, he argued.
“I don’t believe we should be held to these standards,” Jones said.
Under the new limits, an individual can give up to $3,000 to a council candidate in a year, up from $1,500. Council candidates can receive up to $6,000 from political action committees. The previous limit was $3,000.
The limits are still lower than those for mayoral candidates, who can raise $5,000 from individuals and $7,500 from PACs. Some council members wanted to place council contribution limits on par with mayoral ones.
Council members faced a last-ditch push to dissuade them. On Sunday they received a petition, signed by 177 people, that criticized what signatories described as a rushed process that enhanced the power of big donors. People’s Budget Cleveland, which unsuccessfully backed last year’s participatory budgeting amendment, circulated the petition over the weekend.
“The secretiveness and haste of this rich donor ordinance give off a stench that further fouls the air of Cleveland politics,” the petition reads. “A measure that increases the influence of big donors deserves the light of day – a process that is transparent and seeks to bolster public trust in our governing institutions.”
At Monday’s hearing, some council members fired back at critics. Ward 8’s Michael Polensek and Ward 5’s Richard Starr suggested the criticism was part of an effort by political progressives to undermine City Council.
“Keep it moving with that progressive stuff,” Starr said. “Only time the people, and poor people in the city of Cleveland, get something in the city, it’s because this body did it. Not no one else.”
Anthony Hairston, who represents Ward 10, said that many council campaigns don’t see the largesse of big donors.
“The big money ain’t coming to this table,” he said.
One PAC that does support council incumbents is the Council Leadership Fund, which is controlled by the council president. The fund has historically raised money from businesses and labor unions to back council members in their reelection bids.
Griffin, who sponsored the legislation, previously said that it would put members in a better position as they prepare their 2025 reelection campaigns. The filing deadline for those races is about a year away.
Candidates for statewide and state legislative offices may receive up to $15,499.69 from individuals and PACs in both primary and general elections. Those limits rise with inflation every two years.
Cuyahoga County has no contribution limits for candidates seeking the offices of county executive, county council member or county prosecutor.
