Anne Arundel County Council Votes Down Bill Banning Private Developer Money in Campaign Funding

Good Afternoon,

As you may be aware, County Councilmember Lisa Rodvien introduced Bill No. 23-26. This bill was a legislative effort focused on public ethics and campaign finance reform. Specifically, this Bill 23-26 targeted the influence of developers on local government planning and zoning decisions.

This Bill was voted down by the County Council with a 5-2 vote. Among those votes against the bill were two of my fellow democratic candidates for County Executive. I was genuinely surprised by this, especially since the provisions of the bill were NOT retroactive. This means it would have no impact on the current campaign. Despite this, they voted against the bill. What is even more concerning is that there wasn't even discussion on a proposed amendment to the bill.

The bill would have:

• Prohibited Campaign Contributions

• Required Mandatory Recusal or Refund

• Increased Transparency

• Provide Legal Enforcement and Remedies

The bill understandably received overwhelming public support. All public comments whether through online testimony or in-person unanimously supported the Bill.

I showed up and testified in support of this bill because it is consistent with empowering our neighborhoods and communities through transparency and open dialogue. This bill would ensure that all residents have an equal seat at the table.

Below is a video of my testimony in favor of Bill 23-26 and I provide personal experience as to why a bill like this is important.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pF3FuS8k14E