AMHERST — Before the first election for Town Council takes place, a member of the Charter Commission is hoping the town will set campaign finance guidelines.
Meg Gage told the Select Board Wednesday that she is circulating a petition to call a special Town Meeting that would establish what she calls “routine” campaign finance rules that give all residents, no matter their financial means, an opportunity to run for office.
“We need to address this problem immediately rather than hand it off to the council.” Gage said.
It is important, she said, to implement the new charter in the best way that reflects Amherst’s values by putting these limits in place.
The two key components, Gage said, are limiting donations from individuals to candidates or a candidate’s committee to $250 in a calendar year, and prohibiting a candidate or candidate’s committee from accepting any contribution from a political action committee if that contribution exceeds $5,000 in a calendar year.
But there are questions about whether such a rule can be adopted, because the charter limits town officials to business that is “essential and necessary” during the transition period from the select board and town meeting form of government to a town council form of government.
Town attorneys KP Law have provided Town Manager Paul Bockelman with a legal opinion on the articles already coming before annual Town Meeting, and may have to make a ruling on whether Town Meeting can act on campaign finance.
Gage said she worries that there is already a political party developing a platform and a slate of candidates.
“We really need to pay attention to this, it’s highly urgent,” Gage said.
Gage said she will need to collect 200 signatures to trigger a special Town Meeting, but will aim to get 240 that will be delivered the town clerk’s office.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
