Aurora Sentinel: A proposal to increase the number of campaign finance reports from Aurora City Council candidates is drawing criticism for its arrival in front of council members months before the election. 

The proposal comes nearly five months before the municipal election. Five city council seats are up, and all incumbents are hoping to be re-elected to the dais.

“I think the timing is not a coincidence,” said council member and Ward IV candidate Charlie Richardson during a presentation of the proposed ordinance from fellow lawmaker Nicole Johnston. 

Johnston, who made transparency a tenant of her campaign for the Ward II seat in 2017, said she’s been working on the ordinance since February. It only got to council members in the management and finance committee in May because the April meeting already had a full agenda, she said.

The proposed change would require reports be filed at 90 days, 60 days, 30 days, 14 days and the Friday before election day. Another finance report would be required 30 days after the election. Currently, city code only dictates that candidates submit reports 90 days, 21 days, the Friday before and 30 days after the election.

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