El Paso City Council approves ordinance for more transparency in political contributions

With no fanfare and little discussion, the El Paso City Council approved a campaign finance ordinance to cast more light on who is giving money to city representatives and how often those donors have matters before the council.

The new ordinance was approved 6-2 on Tuesday, Dec. 12. El Paso city Reps. Cassandra Hernandez and Joe Molinar voted against the measure.

Molinar previously lamented that the proposal creates "more filters, more levels, more work, more information" that is "unnecessary." Hernandez, on the other hand, took exception to the fact that the new ordinance gives the city Ethics Review Commission broad oversight powers to ensure candidates, elected officials, and donors are following the new rules.

What's in the new ordinance?

The ordinance approved this week will require the following:

• Council members must provide verbal and written disclosure of all contributions over $500 received during their term or campaign, simultaneous with any agenda item relating to a contributor or donor.
• Contributors and donors must disclose any contributions or donations made to a current council member simultaneous with any agenda item relating to them.
• Council members will be required to disclose all contributions and donations in an annual report.

What is the Ethics Review Commission's role?

The new ordinance also gives the Ethics Review Commission broad oversight of candidates, political committees, contributors and donors.

The commission's role will be to ensure that all three follow the new rules under threat of a possible $500 civil penalty, which will be enforced in a justice of the peace court if not paid within 30 days.