Out of town fundraising?

Actually, this was a really hot summer

If today's high of 86 seems outrageously mild for the first week of September, it's likely because your perception of weather norms has been permanently warped by the last few years of hell.

CBS Austin's Avery Tomasco offered some historical perspective last week:

Out-of-town fundraising: how much is too much?

Mayor Kirk Watson and mayoral candidate Doug Greco stand accused of exceeding the limits on out-of-town contributions. From the Austin Monitor:

The complaints, filed by former [Ethics Review] Commissioner Betsy Greenberg, allege that the candidates exceeded the $46,000 limit on donations sourced from outside the city of Austin’s constituency. Donation records attached to Greenberg’s filings show Watson exceeding this limit by $22,105 and Greco by $6,246.

That's hardly a problem for Watson, who has raised over $700k. But Greco's only raised $88k, so having to forfeit any of his donations will hurt. Roughly half of the money he raised came from out of town.

Greco is arguing that the geographic limits are unconstitutional:

“Like the majority of Austinites, I came here by choice, and my cousin in Fort Worth has no less of a right to donate than another candidate’s cousin from West Austin. Because this rule denies free speech to many citizens and unfairly favors incumbents who can discourage donations to opponents as well as wealthy candidates who can loan their campaign money without limits, we believe it is unconstitutional and if necessary we will fight it.”

Hmmm. Austin has historically had very restrictive campaign finance regs, and there are clearly pros and cons.