Mayor Scott swears in Fair Election Fund Commissioners
On Monday, Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott swore in the first three commissioners to the City's Fair Election Fund Commission.
On Monday, Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott swore in the first three commissioners to the City’s Fair Election Fund Commission. The Commission will educate the citizens of Baltimore on the Fair Election Fund and how to participate, as well as making recommendations for funding and administration of the program to the City.
In 2018, voters passed small donor public financing by a 3-to-1 margin. Councilman Kristerfer Burnett sponsored implementation legislation, which was passed by the City Council and signed into law by former Mayor Jack Young in 2020. Small donor financing will be in effect for the 2024 mayor, comptroller and city council elections.
According to Maryland PIRG Foundation research, the vast majority of fundraising in the last mayoral election originated from people and entities not eligible to vote in Baltimore elections. Under the Fair Elections program, participating candidates can rely on small donor funding from City residents. Candidates who opt-in to receive matching public funds for small contributions from individuals in the City. In exchange, they cannot accept large contributions or money from corporations.
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Emily Scarr
State Director, Maryland PIRG Foundation
Emily directs strategy, organizational development, research, communications and legislative advocacy for Maryland PIRG. Recently, Emily helped win small donor public financing in Montgomery and Howard counties, and the Maryland Keep Antibiotics Effective Act to protect public health by restricting the use of antibiotics on Maryland farms. Emily also serves on the Executive Committees of the Maryland Fair Elections Coalition and the Maryland Campaign to Keep Antibiotics Working, and the Steering Committees for the Maryland Pesticide Action Network and Marylanders for Open Government. Emily lives in Baltimore with her husband and dog.