HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2012.10.18 - 20572Commissioner David 'Woodward
MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION 1ff I 2268
BY: Commissioner David Woodward, District #18 and Marcia Gershenson, District #17
IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS - POLICY PROHIBITING PUBLIC FUNDS FOR
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT PROMOTING THE NAME OR LIKENESS OF ANY
OAKLAND COUNTY GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL WITHIN 60 DAYS OF AN ELECTION
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS the practice of using the county's public resources for ads, public service
announcements (PSAs) in print, radio, television, cable, electronic and social media during an
election season has blurred the difference between political campaigning and educating the
public on behalf of the citizens of Oakland County; and
WHEREAS ethical public policy would discourage even the appearance that public funds are
being used for an officeholder's personal campaign ads; and
WHEREAS any type of advertising that promotes Oakland County government programs which
includes the name, voice and or image of a current officeholder who is seeking re-election in
close proximity to upcoming election where that elected official appears on a ballot should be
staunchly discouraged.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners,
hereby establishes the policy prohibiting any Oakland County government officeholder, who is a
candidate for elected office and appears on the ballot, from either appearing in a public service
announcement or advertisement or allow the candidate's name or likeness to be used in a
county public service announcement or advertisement during the 60 days before any election.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that "public service announcement", "advertisement" means any
message broadcast or distributed by electronic or print media promoting or announcing some
issue of public importance, public concern or public welfare, and includes the name, image,
voice, or likeness of the county official who appears on the ballot, paid for with county funds.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that "Print media" means direct mail literature and
advertisements in any newspaper, magazine or any other periodical publication, and includes
the name, image, or likeness of the county official who appears on the ballot, but it shall not
include printed literature promoting a program so long as it is used regularly throughout the year
in the regular course of business and it is not distributed in an unsolicited direct mail advertising
campaign.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all "Print media" distributed in an unsolicited direct mail
advertising campaign must include the following disclaimer: "Paid for with Oakland County
taxpayer funds".
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds is requested to
forward copies of this adopted resolution to the Oakland County Executive, the Oakland County
Treasurer, the Oakland County Sheriff, the Oakland County Prosecuting Attorney, and the
Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner.
Chaftperson, we move the adoption of the foregoing resolution.
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District #18 District #17
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Resolution #12268 October 18, 2012
Moved by Woodward supported by Jackson to suspend the rules and vote on Miscellaneous Resolution
#12268 — Board of Commissioners — Policy Prohibiting Public Funds for Public Service Announcement
Promoting the Name or Likeness of Any Oakland County Government Official Within 60 Days of an
Election.
Vote on motion to suspend the rules:
AYES: Hatchett, Jackson, McGillivray, Quarles, Woodward, Gershenson. (6)
NAYS: Gingell, Gosselin, Hoffman, Long, Matis, Middleton, Potts, Runestad, Scott, Taub,
Weipert, Bosnic, Crawford, Dwyer. (14)
A sufficient majority having not voted in favor, the motion to suspend the rules and vote on Miscellaneous
Resolution #12268 — Board of Commissioners — Policy Prohibiting Public Funds for Public Service
Announcement Promoting the Name or Likeness of Any Oakland County Government Official Within 60
Days of an Election failed.
Discussion followed.
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the Finance Committee. There were no objections.