Cuyahoga County Council May Give Itself Power To Set Campaign Spending Limits

At its meeting Tuesday, Cuyahoga County Council will begin considering a county charter amendment giving itself the authority to set campaign finance limits but if the proposal advances, it won’t necessarily lead to new regulations.

Council president Dan Brady says he’s skeptical about approving this charter amendment and putting it on the ballot because it doesn’t set specific finance limits.

He says he is open to legislation that would do that.

“And our problem there, of course as you know, and most people do, is with the Supreme Court and its decision to view the amount of money that you spend in a campaign as a free speech issue,” said Brady.

The amendment was proposed this month by the county charter review commission.

Council rejected a similar charter amendment in 2013. That one required new campaign finance limits.

Council will also consider an amendment that adds the office of inspector general to the county charter and gives the IG subpoena power.