People often lament the vast sums candidates spend on federal election races, noting the everyday common man can’t possibly run for such offices. Well, it’s not just a national issue.
If you want to play politics locally in 2015—and want the Allegheny County Democratic Party endorsement—you’ve got to pay, and pay more than candidates who ran four years ago.
Want to run for county controller or Common Pleas Court? Those endorsement fees are $8,000 and $7,000 respectively. The Party endorsement for a Pittsburgh city council race is cheap at half the price, $3,500.
County Councilwoman Barbara Daly Danko, a Democrat, said the increased fee structure could keep minorities, especially African Americans from running for public office, especially against established incumbents.
To be considered for the Democratic endorsement, candidates for county council must pay $2,000—twice what it was before—for a job that is essentially voluntary, paying only a $9,000 stipend.
“It looks more and more like a poll tax for candidates,” Danko said.
But county party Executive Director Megan Winters said it is no such thing. The increase isn’t as drastic as it appears because the party now assesses candidates a single fee instead of two—and it offers a refund.
“For example, the fee for county executive is $10,000. It actually went down. Before there was a $4,000 filing fee plus a $8,500 assessment fee,” she said. “The other change is that now, candidates who don’t win and aren’t on the ballot get 30 percent back.”
The assessment fees, she said, were for paying costs—hall rentals, mailing, food, for media and get-out-the-vote efforts. The increase was needed because they have all gone up and now include alternative media as well.
Other fee changes:
•Allegheny County District Attorney and Treasurer, both $7,000, up from $3,000 + $3,000;
•Common Pleas Judge, $7,000, up from $2,500 + $3,000;
•City Controller, $5,000, up from $1,500 + $2,500;
•District Justice, $1,500, up from $250 + $300; and
•School Director, $200, formerly $100 + $100.
Mark Brentley, who last year ran as an independent against state Rep. Jake Wheatley, D–Hill District, said the fees make it clear that African Americans should look at forming their own party or even meeting with Republicans to explore candidacies.
“It is a poll tax. The new refund makes it abundantly clear that these fees are about excluding people, especially Blacks from challenging incumbent candidates,” he said. “It cost me less than $200 to run last year.”
Since the fee changes are new this election cycle, Winters said she did not have new numbers for races that are not being run.
“Last year, the fee for me would have been $2,500,” said Brentley. “As a lifelong activist, it’s clear that it’s too costly to be a Democrat in Allegheny County.”
The county Republican Party rarely endorses candidates, said Chair Dave Majernik.
“If we ever do, we never charge a fee,” he said. “We believe that limits access to the political process. We want more access.”
(Send comments to cmorrow@newpittsburghcourier.com.)
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