Longmont donors will no longer be able to list post office boxes as their address when making campaign contributions over $50.
Longmont City Council officially removed references to PO boxes from the Longmont Fair Campaign Practices Act in a 4-2 vote on Tuesday. Mayor Pro Tem Aren Rodriguez and Councilmember Tim Waters opposed the change, while Councilmember Marcia Martin — who previously voted against it — was absent at the meeting.
Previously in Longmont, all candidates, political and issue committees must report contributions to the city clerk, including the name and street address or PO box of each person who has contributed $50 or more per election year. Those donations and the donor’s associated addresses are publicly available on the city’s website.
Waters has repeatedly voiced his opposition to the change, arguing that it would censor those who do not wish to disclose their address for whatever reason from a form of political speech.
Those in favor of the change, including a handful of members of the public who spoke at the hearing, feel that removing the option to list a PO box would increase transparency in the campaign process.
The rule goes into effect 10 days after publication. Waters tried to pass an amendment that would delay the measure from going into effect until Jan. 1, 2024, so that it would not potentially harm anyone running for the four seats up for election this November.
The amendment died in a 3-3 tie with Waters, Rodriguez and Councilmember Shaquita Yarborough in favor and Mayor Joan Peck and Councilmembers Susie Hidalgo-Fahring and Sean McCoy opposed.
Any campaign donation in Longmont is still limited to $260 per person per election cycle. Four council positions are up for election this fall, including the seats held by Peck, Waters — who said on Tuesday he would not be running for reelection — McCoy and Hidalgo-Fahring.
