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Markkula Center for Applied Ethics

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Roll of american dollars tightened with red band. Photo by Karolina Kaboompics_Pexels.

Roll of american dollars tightened with red band. Photo by Karolina Kaboompics_Pexels.

How Money Corrupts Oakland Politics Without Anyone Breaking the Law

John Pelissero, director, government ethics, quoted by The Oaklandside.

Pelissero said the rising cost of running a local campaign is a troubling development—in some instances, it can reach into the millions of dollars. That opens the door to “pay-for-play” schemes, in which an elected official may want to make policy decisions or promises in exchange for campaign contributions. 

“Money can buy a great deal of influence and really cause a level of unfairness in the playing field,” he told The Oaklandside. “It doesn’t always lead to corruption, but it depends on whether there’s strings attached to funds offered to candidates running for local offices.”

John Pelissero, director, government ethics, quoted by The Oaklandside.

 

Ethics
media, government

Roll of United States paper currency tightened with red band. Photo by Karolina Kaboompics_Pexels.