Editorial | Taking the high road

The citizens of Philadelphia have showed time and again that they want better ethics in government and they won't stand for corruption.

Last year, 87 percent of residents voted in favor of the Ethics Reform Ballot Initiative, a rare show of support for a ballot measure.

Politicians, however, have shown little interest in maintaining high ethical standards.

In 2003, City Council passed a law limiting campaign contributions for mayoral candidates to $2,500 from individuals and $10,000 from business partnerships and political committees. The law was meant to curb the influence of a small number of wealthy campaign contributors, such as television mogul Gerry Lenest, who donated $200,000 to Rep. Chaka Fattah, the Democrat who represents Penn's district.

How was he able to skirt the limit, you ask?

Because Fattah hasn't officially announced he is running for mayor.

To avoid the law, "candidates" like Fattah have stated they believe the law doesn't apply until they announce their candidancy. And (big surprise) only one candidate has officially announced his mayoral candidacy: former Councilman Michael Nutter.

Making matters worse, two judges delivered opposite rulings last week on the constitutionality of the campaign-finance restrictions. This ambivalence from the courts has the potential to mire the campaign finance law in legal battles for years.

With the mayoral primary only 30 weeks away, a final ruling likely won't occur in time to have an impact on this election cycle. However, there is one group which has the power to compel politicians to follow the law even while its legality remains in question: voters.

Citizens must hold their politicians accountable for ducking the spirit of the law. Nutter has set the bar high by promising to abide by the limits (it's sad that it's laudible to just follow the law), and if voters show their support for Nutter's actions, other mayoral candidates will follow suit.

And if candidates ignore the law, voters must flex their muscles and punish them at the ballot box.

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