Full Transparency with Donors
I was asked an excellent question by a member of the press at the formal announcement of my candidacy on January 29, 2008: Did I support requiring the State Ethics Commission to place on line all campaign disclosure reports? Presently, the information, although filed quarterly, is available only by written request or by visiting the Commission's office. I immediately responded that I did support on line disclosure. It occurred to me that I did not need to wait for the State Ethics Commission to take this important step because I could place my own donor reports on my website. I promised I would put this information on my website within 24 hours.
In keeping with this commitment, I have now placed online all donations to Friends of Belinda Gergel and will update this report regularly through election day. If we believe in full transparency in the financial affairs of the City of Columbia (as all candidates for Council have supported), it is certainly appropriate that we practice what we preach by providing full transparency in our campaign financing.
Note: Campaign donations are listed from most current to oldest.