This is how the election process in this state is deliberately rigged in favor of corporate candidates. We need your help to get computer access for the campaign. . . . Below is a conversation I recently had online withthe SEEC and the PDC. - Thanks, David. ---------- ---------- Electronic filing Difficulty 2015 x David Trotter Jan 9 (3 days ago) to wayne.barnett, pdc Greetings, I am a declared, registered candidate for Seattle City council Position 8. At this time we have no internet connection at home, due to long-term unemployment in the household (not for lack of applying: wife 3 1/2 years, me 16 months). As soon as contributions come into the campaign I hope to have office space with a computer, but as for now the only way I could file electronically would be at a public library, which I have been told by Polly Grow of the SEEC is potentially problematic. If this is the case, I need to be able to file by paper, unless its possible to do this from a library. Frankly, to mandate ELECTRONIC filing as the only option is presumptive, arrogant, and designed to deliberately keep the poor from running for office: a direct violation of the very essence of democracy. Sincerely, David Wesley Trotter ---------- Chip Beatty 9:19 AM (4 hours ago) to me Dear Mr. Trotter, The electronic filing requirement was enacted into law by the Washington State Legislature to ensure availability of campaign finance information to the public by the quickest means possible. It is our agency’s responsibility to enforce the law. This law is only applicable to those candidates and committees that intend to spend more than $5,000 over the course of the campaign. If you are intending to spend less than that, then you are able to file reports on paper. I agree with Ms. Grow that filing from a library may be a problem since the reporting software must be downloaded to a computer which is usually prohibited at the library. Some possible methods of filing are; find a family member or friend that would allow you to utilize their computer or, since a computer is needed for filing, have the campaign purchase one for use. Additionally, it would be an allowable expense to pay for internet service for the campaign or you could use free Wi-Fi at many locations in your area. Please let me know if you require any additional information or assistance. Chip Beatty Filer Assistance Specialist Public Disclosure Commission (360) 586-0616 or (877) 601-2828 From: David Trotter [mailto:trotterearthwind@gmail] Sent: Friday, January 09, 2015 4:35 PM To: [email protected]; PDC Subject: Electronic filing Difficulty ---------- Barnett, Wayne 9:36 AM (3 hours ago) to Polly, me, pdc Hello Mr. Trotter, I understand your frustration, but please understand that electronic filing is required not to burden candidates, but to empower the voting public. Before electronic filing, the public needed to travel to City Hall or Olympia to request copies of paper filings showing who was contributing to candidates and ballot measures. Today, that information is available instantaneously to anyone, anywhere, with a couple clicks of a mouse. Without mandatory electronic filing for campaigns expecting to raise or spend more than $5,000, this new era of transparency wouldn’t be possible. We are looking at converting a computer in our office for use by candidates wishing to file electronic reports. I’ve asked Polly Grow in our office to update you by Friday on our progress. We will do what we can to assist you in complying with the electronic filing requirement. Best, Wayne Barnett Executive Director Seattle Ethics and Election Commission P.O. Box 94729 Seattle, WA 98124-4729 (206) 684-8577 seattle.gov/ethics ---------- From: David Trotter [mailto:trotterearthwind@gmail] Sent: Friday, January 09, 2015 4:35 PM To: Barnett, Wayne; [email protected] Subject: Electronic filing Difficulty David Trotter 1:14 PM (8 minutes ago) to Wayne, pdc, Polly Since any information filed on paper can be entered electronically in both Olympia and Seattle and, thus, made fully available to the public (though even travelling to Olympia is still available to the public), your arguments are clearly false and nothing more than a cover for keeping the poor out political races. Its a cheap excuse that passes for taking care of the voters when it actually dictates who may and may not fulfill the legal obligations as candidates, thus effectively working to deny ballot access to those who arent already corporately owned (by definition, fascism). This has now become a campaign issue. Sincerely David Wesley Trotter Candidate Seattle City council Position 8
Posted on: Mon, 12 Jan 2015 21:28:00 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015