PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Philadelphia judge on Monday signed an order barring the political action committee For a Better Philadelphia from spending any money to influence the outcome of the May 16 primary or Nov. 7 general election. The order is part of a larger case involving the PAC and mayoral candidate Jeff Brown.
Philadelphia’s campaign finance law places strict limits on how much candidates for local office can accept from donors. It prohibits candidates from working with so-called “independent expenditure” groups — such as For a Better Philadelphia — because they can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money. The city’s Board of Ethics alleges that Brown helped For a Better Philadelphia raise money and that the PAC used that money to support Brown’s campaign in violation of the city’s campaign finance laws.
Two weeks ago, the Board filed an emergency request, and Common Pleas Court Judge Joshua Roberts signed a temporary order, to stop the PAC from spending on Brown’s behalf.
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After the two sides, over the weekend, agreed on terms to extend the order to Election Day, Roberts canceled a hearing he had scheduled for Monday.
Voters won’t see any more ads promoting Jeff Brown for mayor “paid for by For a Better Philadelphia.” But Matthew White, attorney for For a Better Philadelphia, says the agreement allows the PAC to continue certain types of spending. The PAC’s nonprofit arm has continued to distribute fliers urging voters to participate in the primary and general elections.
“They didn’t mention a mayoral candidate, they didn’t mention a mayoral election, they didn’t mention even city council elections. All just to encourage people to vote,” White said.
Monday’s agreement does not settle the question of whether Brown and the PAC colluded on fundraising efforts for Brown’s campaign. The Board’s executive director, Shane Creamer, says those charges will be resolved separately.
“Whether they coordinated with Jeff Brown and are subject to penalties — that will be decided on a slower basis,” Creamer said.
It’s possible the next hearing in the case won’t come until after the election.
White admits Brown helped with fundraising for the PAC.
“He came to dinner. He may have made some phone calls, but we don’t believe that rises to collusion or coordination,” White said.
The Board’s regulations define coordination as soliciting funds for an entity within 12 months of an election. The Board alleges the dinner and phone calls White refers to took place this past summer and fall.
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