Independence Party says it will require its candidates to make financial diclosures early

The Independence Party is requiring candidates it endorses this year in Minneapolis to voluntarily disclose at mid-election what they've raised and spent, and is challenging other parties and candidates to do the same.

Ordinarily, such disclosure would be required by law just before a September primary election. But one byproduct of the city's switch to ranked-choice voting is that there's no need for a primary. The Hennepin County attorney's office interprets the absence of a primary to mean that no campaign finance disclosure is required until Oct. 27, just before the Nov. 3 election, in which voters will rank their top three candidates.

Must file by Sept. 8

The party said Friday that it's requiring its endorsees to file a report by Sept. 8, listing any expenses and contributions through Sept. 1 that they would normally be required to file.

"This is a no-brainer. All other political parties and candidates should adopt this same policy, and voters should make it a condition of their vote," the party's congressional district unit said in a statement. One DFL council member is exploring whether the city can mandate disclosure.

The Independence Party recently endorsed Dan Alvin for City Council in the 10th Ward and expects to endorse several more candidates in South Side wards. Alvin's DFL-endorsed competitor, Meg Tuthill, said Friday that she'll also disclose her midelection finances.

Candidates with campaign committees for Minneapolis elections last disclosed in late January how much they'd raised and spent, and how much their campaigns had on hand. That report covered calendar 2008.

Minnesota law has long required candidates statewide to file reports annually in non-election years, and 10 days before primary and general elections. Primary reports sometimes provide fodder for opponents and journalists, especially when a candidate draws support from a particular industry or those who might seek favors.

The Independence Party challenge provides an opportunity for one-upmanship among candidates over who can be most transparent. The Star Tribune on Friday asked the two most visible candidates for mayor whether they'd accept the challenge. Al Flowers didn't respond, while the campaign of Mayor R.T. Rybak responded but didn't commit.

Belief in transparency

"Mayor Rybak strongly believes in transparency in campaign financing," said Julie Hottinger, his campaign's political and finance director. "We will work with the Minneapolis DFL and other DFL-endorsed candidates about how best to reflect the spirit of transparency and disclosure when we don't have a primary in the municipal elections." City DFL Chair Dan McConnnell said his party generally supports transparency but can't retroactively dictate its terms to endorsees.

There's no primary with ranked-choice voting because it combines the functions of a primary and general election. If no candidate polls a majority of first-choice votes, the lowest-polling candidates are dropped in successive rounds, and the second choices of voters are added to the remaining candidates until one hits a majority. There's a lower threshold in multi-seat contests.

Elizabeth Glidden, the City Council's election chair, has asked city attorneys to explore whether it's legal to require reporting of finances through when a primary normally would be held. Campaign finance requirements typically are set by state law.

Steve Brandt • 612-673-4438