Businesses can donate to Wichita city candidates again
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Businesses who want to offer financial support to candidates for Wichita mayor and Wichita City Council will soon be able to open their checkbooks again.
On Tuesday, the Wichita City Council changed the city’s campaign finance ordinance for the second time in two months.
In January, then-Mayor Brandon Whipple and the council voted 4-3 to stop business donations to campaigns. Those who voted for the ban said people were getting around campaign contribution limits by donating through limited liability companies and corporations.
The week after that vote, incoming Mayor Lily Wu and two new council members were sworn in.
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The topic of the business ban soon came up, and the council asked city staff to get feedback from the six District Advisory Boards.
During almost two hours of public comment and discussion on Tuesday, the council heard from many people who support the ban on businesses donating to campaigns. Still, a few spoke strongly for businesses to be involved.
City Council Member Becky Tuttle said LLCs are part of the community and should have a voice in elections.
“If people are concerned that people are influenced, money is going to candidates no matter what,” she said. “If we keep the current system now, money will just go to PACs, and then it will be less transparent than it is now.”
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Council Member J.V. Johnston said money does not win elections.
“I would guess everyone on this council right now probably worked harder than their opponents. That’s how they got elected,” he said. “It wasn’t the money. It was work — getting out with the people, talking with the people, and working neighborhoods.”
Johnston made a motion that the city revert to what state law says about campaign donations and keep it simple. His motion failed.
In the end, the council agreed to allow corporations and LLCs to donate to candidates if the business’s principal owner is part of the information that is made public. That way, the public can see if a candidate got numerous donations from the same person.
There will be a second vote on the ordinance change at a future council meeting.
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