Austin City Council candidates have filed for office, started raising money and began asking for votes — all while a lawsuit challenging many of the rules and restrictions they’re campaigning under remains unresolved.
The suit, filed in federal court by District 6 Council Member Don Zimmerman, challenges key aspects of the city’s election code: the blackout period for campaign contributions (which has ended for the Nov. 8 election), the strict limits on contributions from outside the city, the limits on overall contributions (currently $350 per person) and the prohibition against building campaign war chests by keeping leftover funds after an election.
At the trial in December, Zimmerman and his attorney argued the restrictions are unconstitutional because they limit speech. The city countered those rules are essential because they maintain faith in the political system and prevent corruption, or the appearance of it.
Zimmerman said he was hoping for a quick decision. Six months later, U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel still hasn’t ruled.
“We’re disappointed and surprised that there’s still no ruling on that. We can’t understand the magnitude of this delay,” Zimmerman said. “We brought this lawsuit on principle.”
