Rules Committee backs ordinance to require disclosure for "draft" campaign committees

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors Rules Committee on Thursday recommended an ordinance to amend the city—s campaign and governmental conduct code so that groups formed to support an identifiable person who has not yet qualified as a candidate must register and file the same disclosure reports as primarily formed candidate committees.

The proposal, brought at the Ethics Commission—s request, aims to close what the Ethics Commission described as a gap exposed by two committees that in 2011 raised funds and spent money to encourage then-interim Mayor Ed Lee to run. "If people are raising and spending money to influence voters, they have a right to know who's doing it," John St. Croix, representing the Ethics Commission, told the committee.

Chair John Avalos said the ordinance aligns the spirit and letter of campaign-finance rules and ensures transparency when groups organize around encouraging an individual to run. Public supporters of the measure said it is a modest but meaningful step to make funding sources and expenditures visible. "It does provide the public with information on who it is that's providing the funding for it and how that funding is being spent," Larry Bush said in public comment.

The committee accepted the Ethics Commission—s definition of a "draft committee" and the requirement that such committees register and file reports disclosing contributions and expenditures during set time periods, mirroring obligations for primarily formed committees. After public comment, Supervisor Katie Tang moved to send the ordinance forward with a positive recommendation; Supervisor Malia Cohen seconded the motion and the committee took it without objection.

The measure will return to the full Board of Supervisors for further consideration and any vote on final adoption.