Title
Ordinance amending and supplementing the City Code at Title One: Administrative, Article XI: Human Resources, Chapter 198: Campaign Finance Regulations at Sections 198.01 Definitions and 198.05: Public Database and Reporting.
Body
Whereas, transparency, accountability and consistent enforcement of campaign finance laws is vital to maintaining the public trust;
Whereas, disclosure of non-local and dark money groups' spending in municipal races is essential to preserving the fundamental democratic principle that "government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish;"
Whereas, the Ethics Hearing Board desires to forward these goals through accounting for independent expenditures, expanding this accounting to include campaigns involving ballot questions, and mandating an audit procedure; therefore,
The Council of the City of Pittsburgh hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The City Code is hereby amended at Title One: Administrative, Article XI: Human Resources, Chapter 198: Campaign Finance Regulations, at Section 198.01 as follows:
? 198.01 - DEFINITIONS.
CANDIDATE.
(a) Any individual who files nomination papers or petitions for City elected office;
(b) Any individual who publicly announces his or her candidacy for City elected office.
CANDIDATE COMMITTEE. The political committee, any money or assets associated with it, and any associated bank account into which all contributions in support of a campaign for City elected office shall be made, and out of which all expenditures for that office shall be made.
CITY ELECTED OFFICE. The offices of Mayor, City Controller, and City Council.
COORDINATED EXPENDITURE. Any expenditure made by any person (other than a candidate or candidate committee) in support of a candidate's campaign that is made in cooperation, consultation, or in concert with, or at the direction of a candidate, candidate committee, or agent thereof.
COVERED ELECTION. Every primary electio...
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