ctions Citizens Clean Ele n Commission Bulleti Volume 1, Quarter 4 October 2004 Message from the Chair Inside this issue: Message from the Chair 1 The Act & the Commission 2 Check out our NEW Website! 2 Candidate Debates 3 Legislative Changes 3 Participating Candidate Update 4 General Election Candidate Statement Pamphlets 4 General Election Debate Schedule in October 5 Important Dates 6 Topic of the Quarter 6 Commission Meeting Schedule 7 Welcome to the fourth quarter Citizens Clean Elections Commission Bulletin. The Commission would like to congratulate all primary election winners! We look forward to working with all of the candidates who have been chosen to move forward to the general election. In our continued efforts to provide support to candidates and citizens alike, we are continuing an extensive education campaign. The message of this campaign is simple— everyone can have a voice in state government. Involvement is the key. By attending debates, reading the Candidate Statement Pamphlet and voting, Arizonans can learn about the candidates and make an educated vote on November 2. Over 1.4 million General Election Candidate Statement Pamphlets were sent out statewide prior to the start of early voting in the general election period. We have planned 23 general election debates—all of which are free and open to the public. 2.8 million early ballot request cards have been provided to registered voters, in Arizona, by our office. In addition to the Commission’s ongoing education campaign, we are attempting to make the Commission better by initiating legislative changes to the Clean Elections Act. While previous legislation provides a good starting point for this year’s bill, we are actively encouraging input, comments and proposals from the public. We will continue to encourage broad-reaching citizen participation to improve the political process. Sincerely, David G. McKay, 2004 Chair This Bulletin is intended to be an informational tool used to update parties regarding the Commissions’ projects and developments. If you have further questions, feel free to call the Commission directly and speak with any staff member at 1-602-364-3477 or toll free at 1-877-631-8891. As a state agency, we are here to serve you. State of Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission Contact Information: 1616 W. Adams, Suite 110 Phoenix, AZ 85007 (602) 364-3477 (602) 364-3487, fax 1-877-631-8891, toll free Page 2 The Citizens Clean Elections Commission Bulletin October 2004 The Act and the Commission The Citizens Clean Elections Act (Act) is a campaign finance reform measure that was initiated by Arizona citizens and passed by voters in 1998. The Act creates a new campaign financing system that provides full public funding to qualified candidates who agree to abide by the Act and Commission rules. The 2003-2004 election cycle will be the third election season in which candidates may run a political campaign under the Act. Governed by the laws of the State of Arizona, the Citizens Clean Elections Commission (Commission) has been created to implement and enforce campaign finance laws and to promote voter education through candidate debates and a Candidate Statement Pamphlet. The Act allows the Commission to provide procedures for the inspection of a candidate’s bank account, campaign finance reports and financial records relating to the candidate’s campaign. To qualify for funding, the voluntary “participating candidates” must adhere to spending and contribution limits and gather $5 qualifying contributions from district constituents who are registered voters. Participating candidates also agree to attend required debates. Check out our NEW Website and Sign up Now! www.azcleanelections.gov Please visit the Citizens Clean Elections Commission website at www.azcleanelections.gov to view the list of participating candidates, General Election Candidate Statement Pamphlet, list of debate sponsors & schedules and candidates who have received general election funding. If you have questions, feel free to contact Voter Education Manager, Autumn Southard, at (602) 364-3477, extension 210. Page 3 The Citizens Clean Elections Commission Bulletin October 2004 Candidate Debates Debates are an effective way to inform and involve voters in the political process. The Commission has contracted with nonpartisan sponsors to hold a debate prior to the general election unless there is no participating candidate in the election for a particular office or a participating candidate has no opposition for a particular office. Candidates Eligible to Participate: Invite all candidates, participating candidates and non-participating candidates, who will appear on the general election ballot to participate in the debate for the district or statewide office. Candidates Ineligible to Participate: The following candidates will not be invited to participate in debates as follows: • In the general election, write-in candidates. Candidates may not distribute materials in the debate room. Campaign signs, brochures, and materials shall be distributed outside the room in which the debate is held. Candidates may have papers, notes or writing utensils during the debate but, they may not use any other “props”. Please go to www.ccec.state.az.us for a continuously updated schedule of debates. Legislative Changes Since its approval by Arizona voters in1998 the Citizens Clean Elections Act (Act) has had only minor adjustments. The Citizens Clean Elections Commission (Commission) is now in its 3rd election cycle of administering the Act. Over the past six years, the Commission has promulgated rules to respond to public input and clarify administration of the Act. However, some changes can only be implemented through legislative action. With that in mind, the Commission will introduce legislation this session to make technical and substantive changes to improve the law and its administration. As part of this process, we are actively seeking constructive input from interested parties and the public. The Commission recognizes that many elected officials, candidates, citizens and organizations will have valuable insights and first hand experience with the law and its administration. Recognizing the value of a broad cross section of comment, we are soliciting constructive input via our website and have encouraged public comments at our September 14th Commission meeting and will continue to do so at our October 5th Commission meeting. Based on a comprehensive analysis of written comments, oral testimony and staff review, the Commission will develop amendments to the 1998 Act and introduce legislation in the upcoming 2005 legislative session. Details of the Act are available in the Act, Rules and Policy Manual listed on left side of the Commission homepage. Using the following link public comments can be submitted directly to Eric Gorsegner, Deputy Director of the Citizens Clean Elections Commission, at eric.gorsegner@ccec.state.az.us. Written comments can also be sent to the Commission directly (Attention: Eric Gorsegner). Please have all comments to the Commission prior to 5:00 p.m. on October 8th. For additional information or discussion please contact Eric Gorsegner directly at (602) 364-3477 x 202. Page 4 The Citizens Clean Elections Commission Bulletin October 2004 Participating Candidate Update 118 participating candidates appeared on the primary election ballot. 88 of those 118 participating candidates will appear on the general election ballot. General Election Candidate Statement Pamphlets As mandated by the Clean Elections Act, the Citizens Clean Elections Commission (Commission) has produced General Election Candidate Statement Pamphlets for the 2004 general election. The Commission has produced and mailed candidate statement pamphlets to every household in Arizona containing a registered voter before the start of early voting for the general election. The Commission has also posted the pamphlet on the Commission’s website at www.ccec.state.az.us as well as made the pamphlet available at public locations such as libraries and chambers of commerce. The candidate statement pamphlet is a nonpartisan, comprehensive source of information for Arizona voters. Participating and nonparticipating candidates were given the opportunity to supply the Commission with a statement for inclusion in the pamphlet. All candidates who will appear on the general election ballot were eligible to submit a statement by the deadline. The pamphlets include the office in which the candidate is running, as well as the candidate’s name, party affiliation, funding source, website and statement. Candidates were allowed to submit separate statements for the primary and general election pamphlets. Deadline: The Commission did not accept late submissions for inclusion in the pamphlet. General election statements, verification forms and photographs had to be submitted no later than 5:00pm on July 27, 2004. Statements: The 2004 pamphlets include statements of 200 words in length. New statements were accepted for the general election pamphlet. If a candidate submitted a statement for the primary election pamphlet and did not submit a new statement for the general election pamphlet, their statement from the primary election pamphlet was used for the general election pamphlet. The Commission only accepted statements electronically through the Commission’s website. Statements that exceed the allotted 200 words were not accepted. Candidates were allowed to submit a statement without submitting a photograph or vice versa. Photographs: The 2004 general election pamphlet includes photographs of candidates. Candidates could submit digital photos through the Commission website, by e-mail or they could make an appointment to have a digital photo taken at Tieken/Moret’s office. Tieken/ Moret is the graphic design firm that contracted with the Commission to assist in the design and format of the pamphlets. The Commission only accepted digital photos. View the General Election Candidate Statement Pamphlet online at www.ccec.state.az.us. Page 5 The Citizens Clean Elections Commission Bulletin October 2004 Schedule of General Election Debates in October The following districts will NOT have a 2004 primary election debate: 4, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22, 27 Office Date & Time Location Corporation Commission, Terms Ending ‘07 & ‘09 10/7/04, 3:30pm University of Advancing Technology Auditorium 2625 W. Baseline Road Tempe, AZ 85283 District 1, Senate & House 10/7/04, 6:00pm City of Prescott, City Council Chambers 201 S. Cortez Street Prescott, AZ 86302 District 2, House 10/15/04, 6:00pm City of Flagstaff, Council Chambers 211 W. Aspen Flagstaff, AZ 86001 District 3, House 10/4/04, 6:00pm Mohave Community College, Bullhead City Campus 3400 Highway 95, Room District 5, Senate & House 10/14/04, 6:00pm City of Globe, City Council Chambers 150 N. Pine Street Globe, AZ 85501 District 6, Senate & House 10/7/04, 7:00pm Barry Goldwater High School 2820 W. Rose Garden Lane Phoenix, AZ 85027 District 7, House 10/6/04, 6:30pm Carefree Resort & Villas, Saguaro Room 37220 Mule Train Road Carefree, AZ 85377 District 8, Senate & House 10/5/04, 6:00pm Kerr Cultural Center 6110 N. Scottsdale Road Scottsdale, AZ 85253 District 10, Senate & House 10/5/04, 6:00pm ASU West, University Center Building, La Sala A 4701 W. Thunderbird Road Phoenix, AZ 85069 District 11, Senate & House 10/7/04, 7:00pm Church of the Beatitudes, Nelson Room 555 W. Glendale Phoenix, AZ 85021 District 13, House 10/4/04, 6:30pm Epworth Methodist Church 4802 N. 59th Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85033 District 15, Senate & House 10/5/04, 6:00pm Viad Tower, Playhouse on the Park 1850 N. Central Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85004 District 23, House 10/7/04, 6:00pm Emergency Operations Center 31 N. Pinal Street, Building F Florence, AZ 85232 District 24, House 10/4/04, 6:30pm Yuma County Board of Supervisors Auditorium 198 Main Street Yuma, AZ 85364 District 25, Senate & House 10/1/04, 7:00pm Cochise College, Benson Center 1025 State Route 90 Sierra Vista, AZ 85602 District 26, House 10/8/04 Town of Oro Valley 11000 N. La Canada Drive Oro Valley, AZ 85737 District 28, House 10/5/04, 6:00pm Catalina High School 3645 E. Pima Street Tucson, AZ 85716 District 29, Senate 10/14/04, 6:00pm El Pueblo Neighborhood Center 101 W. Irvington Road, Tucson, AZ 85714 District 30, House 10/6/04, 5:00pm Green Valley Library, Large Meeting Room 601 North La Canada Drive Green Valley, AZ 85614 For specific addresses and sponsor names, please visit our website at http://www.ccec.state.az.us/ccecscr/debates.asp Page 6 The Citizens Clean Elections Commission Bulletin October 2004 Important Dates! October 7, 2004: Post-Primary Original Campaign Finance Report is due October 21, 2004: Pre-General Original Campaign Finance Report is due November 2, 2004: GENERAL ELECTION! December 2, 2004: Post-General Original Campaign Finance Report is due *Topic of the Quarter* General Election Period Matching Funding Participating candidates may receive matching funding in the general election period if: • Their nonparticipating opponents receive contributions, minus expenditures made through the primary election, in excess of the general election spending limit. • Independent expenditures are made that favor nonparticipating candidates or oppose the participating candidate. GENERAL ELECTION PERIOD MATCHING FUNDS EXAMPLE Assumption: 1 legislative seat, 2 candidates 1 participating, 1 nonparticipating Nonparticipating candidate’s total contributions Nonparticipating candidate’s primary election expenditures Difference General Election Spending Limit Matching funds provided $40,000 —$20,000 =$20,000 —$16,980 =$3,020 Exception: For nonparticipating candidates who did not have opposition in the primary, the participating candidate will be matched based on total contributions raised over the general spending limit. *For more information on this topic (including exceptions), please refer to A.R.S. § 16-952. tions Citizens Clean Elec n Commission Bulleti Volume 1, Quarter 4 October 2004 1616 W. Adams, Suite 110 Phoenix, AZ 85007 Thank you very much for tak ing the time to read our fourth qua rter Bulletin! The Bulletin is publish ed once a quarter and is posted on the Commission’s website. (602) 364-3477 (602) 364-3487, fax 1-877-631-8891, toll free Visit us on the Web! www.ccec.state.az.us 2004 Fourth Quarter Commission Meeting Schedule Citizens Clean Elections Commission Upcoming Meetings Commissioners October David G. McKay, Chair Kathleen S. Detrick Tuesday, 10/5/04 9:30am Ermila Jolley Marcia Busching Tuesday, 10/26/04 9:30am Tracey A. Bardorf November Commission meetings are held in the Citizens Clean Elections Commission conference room at 1616 W. Adams in Phoenix. Tuesday, 11/16/04 9:30am Please contact the Commission or check the Commission website, www.ccec.state.az.us to confirm meeting dates and times. The Commission meeting minutes and agendas are available free of charge on the Commission website. Additionally, past minutes and agendas are posted on the website. Tuesday, 11/30/04 9:30am December To Be Determined—Please go to www.ccec.state.az.us