Rocky plans to veto campaign funding rules
Anderson told council members he disagreed with the council's decision last week to increase the maximum campaign contribution limit for mayor from $7,500 to $10,000 and for City Council from $1,500 to $2,000.
In the past the city's limits sought to keep maximum contributions low so that candidates have to seek support from a wide variety of sources. The limits try to prevent one large "sugar daddy" from bankrolling one candidate.
Councilman Dave Buhler proposed the limit increases, which other council members supported. Councilman Carlton Christensen, who was on the council when the original campaign finance ordinance was passed in 1998, said one reason the city kept the limit low was to encourage political participation from a large spectrum of the population.
The logic was that even people who didn't have access to big spenders could compete with those who did.
However, small limits actually hinder lesser-known candidates because they don't have wide support, Christensen said. Often those lesser-known candidates have to seek support from a wealthy family member or friend who bankrolls their political run, he said.
But Anderson told council members he sees things differently and would use his veto for only the second time in his administration.
The city's limits are fairly low. Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan, for instance, has received campaign contributions of $10,000 from Larry H. Miller. Such a contribution would be banned under Salt Lake City's $7,500 cap.
Donors can get around the caps, however. Millionaire Bruce Bastian, for instance, contributed $22,500 to Anderson's record-setting $760,000 campaign war chest in 2003, funneling $7,500 contributions to Anderson through separate business accounts.
During that campaign Yellow Cab drivers also gave Anderson free advertising on its cabs that some have valued at more than $60,000. Anderson didn't have to claim that contribution. Buhler said Tuesday he will work to tighten up rules regarding in-kind contributions like advertising.
The only other time Anderson has used the veto was on a deal that would have created an Utah Museum of Fine Arts extension in the former Brooks Arcade building on 300 South and State.
It was later discovered that veto was done illegally and Anderson worked to get Alpha Graphics to move into the building. Anderson has threatened to use his veto power at other times — a threat that killed a proposal to put a sprawling mall on the far western edges of Salt Lake City.
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