Campaign Contribution Limits to be on November Ballot

Should political candidates be allowed to accept contributions of more than $500?

That's one of the questions that the voters of Multnomah County will have to consider when they go to the ballot in November.

The Multnomah County Charter Review Committee - which oversees the county's charter or constitution - voted Wednesday to put two measures before the voters.

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The first is the one banning contributions of more than $500 from individuals though allowing small donor committees to be set up, accept donations of $100 or less, and bundle them together as one contribution of more than $500.

It would impose limitations in Multnomah County for the first time. Currently, Oregon is one of a handful of states in the country that does not limit the size of contributions.

The second measure would change the way the county gets a sheriff.

The Multnomah County Sheriff is now an elected position.

The measure the committee put on the ballot would change the position to one appointed by the county commission.

The current sheriff, Daniel Staton, announced last month that he would step down in the middle of August.

The move came after months of controversy that included investigations into how he treated employees and calls for this resignation.

Despite the problems, several officials said the position should not be changed, that voters should still have a say in who the sheriff is.

The votes to put the measures on the ballot were both very close - 7-5 and 7-6.

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