Independent expenditures likely to become more important in Seattle elections

[eridani]

I got the following message from Lisa Herbold, who won District 1 in Seattle by 39 votes.

Of course early in the campaign these values became an even bigger focus because an Independent Expenditure (IE) campaign made a record-busting investment against me. Their donations were not subject to financial limits like our donations are. This District 1 $230,000 IE was more than all IEs combined in citywide Council races in the last 3 election cycles combined.

But maybe now we can ensure that the influence of IEs will not become the new "politics as usual. It's not everyday that a candidate outspent 3-1 wins her election. Hasn't this election proven to us that if we continue to work together like we have over the last 10 months we can make sure that all voices are represented and that we can challenge those who would maintain the status quo?

[eridani]

1. PACs on Parade in the 2015 Seattle City Council Elections

http://fixdemocracyfirst.org/fdf/political-action-committee-influence-on-the-2015-seattle-city-council-election/

The effects of the 2010 Supreme Court Decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (“Citizens United”) were substantial in the 2015 Seattle City Council election. Citizens United, which legalized unlimited contributions to and expenditures by independent political action committees, has led to record breaking political fundraising in the Seattle races, increased influence for wealthy voters and organizations and reduced transparency in the campaign fundraising process.

Direct contributions in the 2015 election totaled $3.7 million, an increase of 32% from the combined total of $2.8 million for both the 2011 and 2013 races combined (the combination accounts for the difference in the number of races). Political Action Committees (“PACs”) contributed $790,000 to council member campaigns in 2015 compared to less than $5,000 in 2011 and 2013. This does not include the $71,000 that PACs were allowed to contribute to candidates directly in 2015. Overall contributions totaled $4.5 million in 2015, an increase of 61% over the $2.8 million contributions in 2011 and 2013. While there was growth in direct contributions as well, PAC campaign donations were a significant factor in overall fundraising growth.

PAC contributions were particularly elevated in two races – seat 1 in West Seattle and seat 8, an at large seat. Shannon Braddock (seat 1) and Tim Burgess (seat 8) were the two largest beneficiaries of PAC contributions at $232,000 and $219,000, respectively. Together, these two candidates’ PAC receipts totaled 63% of the general election PAC expenditures. However, additional resources did not necessarily translate to political victory. Shannon Braddock was defeated in the general election by Lisa Herbold while Tim Burgess was reelected against challenger Jon Grant.

[eridani]

2. Guest editorial by Jim Street

http://fixdemocracyfirst.org/fdf/the-citizens-united-explosion-of-big-campaign-dollars-has-landed-in-seattle/

And in 2015 Seattle City Council elections, $790,210 was spent by independent PACs. This compares to $0 four years ago. The 2010 Supreme Court Decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which held that contributions to and expenditures by independent political action committees cannot be limited, has arrived in Seattle.

Some specifics worth noting:

--Most of the independent PAC money – $451,000 went to 2 candidates – Tim Burgess (at large) and Shannon Braddock (west Seattle).

--By far the largest expenditures – $339,000– came from one PAC – CASE or the Civic Alliance for a Sound Economy, which is sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. The Hospitality PAC spent $100,000. Independent labor union PACs, mostly representing city employees, contributed $83,000 to independent committees and contributed an additional $51,000 directly to candidates.

--Independent committees could be quite creative in what they chose to call themselves. Donors to the “Neighbors for Shannon” committee consisted of the Chamber of Commerce PAC, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association PAC, the Hospitality PAC and the Seattle Firefighters PAC. So PACs give to other PACs and call themselves “neighbors”.

--In Seattle the limit for direct contributions to candidates was $700 in 2015. The various organizations that formed independent PACs contributed $70,097 directly to candidates under that rule, but they spent an additional $790,210 through independent committees. An eleven-fold increase! Thanks to the five-member Citizen United majority’s explicit rejection of the idea of a level playing field in our elections. The majority also found “no appearance of corruption” in such large independent committee expenditures.

--Individuals (including their family members), and corporations (including their management and government relations staff) are where most of this money starts. In 2016 the Vulcan Corporation, its senior management (vice-presidents and above) and government relations staff topped the list of contributors at $102,550, including $21,550 in direct contributions to candidates, $40,500 to independent PACS and $40,500 to city ballot issues. The top six sources of funds (over $20,000) were Vulcan, R. C. Hedreen ($66,300), Amazon ($54,800), the Sabey Corp. ($33,950), Microsoft ($22,900) and Wright Runstad (Jon Runstad) and Judith Runstad ($22,950).