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Integrity in Campaigning

Carbondale, like all of Illinois, is concerned about ethics in government. I am fortunate to have learned from many people over many years about how to limit the influence of money in politics. I have been a board member of the Jackson County League of Women Voters and the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform. In theses roles I have learned from people like Lillian Adams here in Carbondale and Cindi Canary in Chicago, two people dedicated to making the political process work for everyone. And having grown up in a political family, I know firsthand that honesty and politics do not have to be conflicting ideas.

My goal is to make the political process more about democracy and less about selling jobs and influence. Illinois places very few limits on campaign finance and disclosure. For example, people can contribute thousands of dollars to local campaigns and hide behind names of businesses, trusts or other organizations. My standards, and your expectations, are higher. I firmly believe that no one person should be able to donate huge amounts of money, and I believe you should know who my contributors are. You should not have to take my word for it -- you should be able to make an informed decision when you vote.

Disclosure of my personal income and assets can help voters make an informed decision. Voters should be able to know what I own and how I have invested. This information can help voters determine whether I can be a fair leader of our community. I also believe this campaign should be about issues and ideas, not personal attacks. In order to address these concerns, here are the steps I have taken and will continue to take. I challenge all other candidates to follow.

Action:

  1. I will not accept campaign donations over $50.
  2. I will not accept campaign donations from city employees.
  3. I will disclose the names of donors to my campaign.
  4. I have made public my most recent tax return and a report on my income and assets. I will make these disclosures annually as mayor.
  5. I have signed and will abide by the Illinois Code of Fair Campaign Practices.

Please click on any topic above for more information and specific actions I plan to take. You may also download A Working Plan for Carbondale in PDF format.