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In 2007, the N.C. General Assembly approved Chapel Hill to be the state’s first municipality to participate in a program in which candidates could receive public funding for campaigns with restrictions and limits on their own fundraising. The purpose of these voter-owned elections is to equalize candidates who may not be as wealthy or as well-connected, while also limiting campaign spending. This is also meant to eliminate corruption in elections. At a public hearing held in May 2008, some members of the community thought the program would discourage candidates from associating themselves with special interest groups. Others were concerned with the town’s ability to afford the program. The Chapel Hill Town Council approved implementing the program at its meeting June 9, 2008.
Tuesday’s elections might have marked the last time Chapel Hill candidates could use taxpayer dollars to finance campaigns. The town’s voter-owned elections program allows candidates to receive public campaign funding if they follow specific fundraising restrictions.
Chapel Hill Town Council candidates Donna Bell and Jason Baker will receive public funding for their 2011 campaigns. Both raised more than the minimum 83 donations — limited to $20 at most — and $838 in contributions to qualify for up to $3,351 in public funds through Chapel Hill’s voter-owned elections program.
The N.C. State Board of Elections suspended emergency voter-owned election funds last Thursday — a move some Chapel Hill candidates say might affect the competitiveness of races in this year’s local elections.
This year’s elections, held Nov. 8, will mark the second time contenders for town office can participate in the town’s voter-owned election ordinance, which debuted in 2009 and is the only such program in the state.
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