Fundraising in future city elections could be affected by proposed changes to campaign-finance rules.

The City Council's agenda on Wednesday includes hearings on two amendments to city ordinances: One would establish a way for candidates to use taxpayer money to campaign for public office, and another would set caps on the amount of money individuals or groups can contribute to a candidate.

The public campaign financing system, a proposal introduced by Councilor Matthew Ortiz, is aimed at following through on a change to the city charter that was approved by voters in 2008. The contributions-limit idea came from Common Cause of New Mexico and was presented by Councilor Rosemary Romero.

Both reform efforts are not likely to be approved exactly as introduced, however, and the details are still being debated.

When it comes to contribution caps, it's the dollar figure that seems to be a moving target.

As introduced, the amendment would prohibit candidates from accepting contributions from any one donor totaling more than $1,500 in the mayor's race and $500 in council races. Romero said her main reason for pushing the change is to build public confidence.

"When these big chunks of money come in, my sense is that people expect something for their big chunk of money," she said, "and I don't think that is a good message to send."

In a written proposal outlining support for the change, Jim Harrington of Common Cause cited $5,000 contributions to candidates in the 2008 election from the American Federation of County, State and Municipal Employees that arrived at the last second, creating a "risk of actual or perceived undue influence on city officials arising in the future from this sort of extravagant largess."

Large donations are not uncommon in recent municipal elections. Candidates seeking office in 2006 and 2008 collected 22 contributions valued at $2,000 or more for a total of nearly $98,000 for the two cycles. Four contributions — from Rancho Viejo Inc., Andrew and Sydney Davis, John R. Small and a union — were $10,000 or more.

Several of those big checks went to the election campaign for Mayor David Coss, who is a co-sponsor on the proposal to cap contributions for future elections. He said he favors a limit closer to $2,000.

Coss has already collected $70,000 for his re-election campaign, his campaign manager said Friday, including contributions of $2,000 or more from Gov. Bill Richardson and another union political action committee.

The 2006 mayor's race, in which Coss raised $146,000, was a record breaker for Santa Fe; however, the 2010 election might fall short because of the economy.

Meanwhile, City Councilor Miguel Chávez announced last week that he will run for mayor but also promised to raise no more than $60,000 to do it. A campaign manager for mayoral candidate Asenath Kepler did not immediately provide figures about contributions so far.

Santa Fe wouldn't be alone in imposing limits. The state Legislature this year adopted campaign contribution limits that are slated to kick in for the 2012 election.

In Albuquerque, individual contributions are limited to 5 percent of the salary of the office being sought. The individual contribution limit for the mayor in last week's election was $20,000, and the contribution limit for council races is $5,000. Candidates in that race still raised cash that seems astronomical compared to the City Different. State Rep. Richard Berry raised $355,231, ousting incumbent Martin Chávez, who raised more than $1.9 million.

Although limits sound good to him, Santa Fe resident Fred Flatt said he suspects caps would be circumvented. Flatt — a Miguel Chávez supporter who recently resigned from a Coss appointment to the Campaign Ethics and Review Board — has criticized the city for refusing to investigate and audit campaign activity that he deemed suspicious, such as candidates reporting large donations after election day.

"I think it's a good idea. I don't know that it's going to work because there will still be cheaters who know how to cheat and they will, and the ones who are aren't cheating will be kept to that limit," he said.

Opponents of donation caps argue that they impinge on free speech. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule as soon as next year on that point in a case that involves a documentary on Hillary Clinton. The documentary was produced by the conservative nonprofit Citizens United and released during last year's presidential campaign.

In addition to spending limits, Romero's proposed amendment also would remove clauses in the law that allow candidates to donate unspent campaign contributions to other candidates or for other unspecified duties of service.

A majority of councilors are already listed as bill co-sponsors on the public campaign financing amendment. Language on the ballot at the time the concept for such a system was approved said it should be in place within two years if money is available. Councilors are likely to disagree over when to start the program and how much to give each candidate.

The basic idea is to create a system by which candidates forgo private fundraising in exchange for a government handout and tiny "qualifying contributions" from a number of supporters. Candidates in a mayor's race, for example, would get $60,000 under the proposal, while council candidates would receive $15,000.

The city has yet to set aside any money for such a system, the cost of which would rise as more candidates participate in the election. The system also has a provision that allows a publicly financed candidate to get additional money if another candidate in the same race spends more private money.

Ortiz said this summer that he wanted to get public financing in place before the current election cycle, but neither of the proposals will be in play for the March 2 municipal election.

Contact Julie Ann Grimm at 986-3017 or jgrimm@sfnewmexican.com.

IF YOU GO

What: City Council to discuss two election reform measures.
When: 7 p.m., Wednesday
Where: City Hall, 201 Lincoln Ave.
More information: Both proposals are posted on the city's Web site at www.santafenm.gov, under City Attorney, Legislative Services.