AUSTIN, Texas — Austin mayoral candidate Doug Greco filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court on Tuesday alleging that the city’s cap on out-of-town campaign contributions is illegal and gives an added advantage to longtime city residents.
Greco is one of three challengers in an effort to unseat incumbent Kirk Watson and raised the most of Watson’s three opponents from January to June.
According to his suit, a city charter provision that has been in place since 1997 places a limit on outside-Austin contributions at about $47,000.
Greco’s suit contends that although much of his career has been in Austin, he also has supporters who live across the United States and want to give to his campaign. One of them, a man from San Antonio, also joined the lawsuit as a plaintiff, saying that his First Amendment right to participate in the election is infringed upon by the limits.
The rule “completely silences and excludes from participation people like Plaintiff (Ramon) Duran and other potential out-of-Austin donors to Mr. Greco’s campaign who share and wish to express their support for his vision for the city through the constitutionally protected means of donating to his campaign.”
The suit comes as Greco and Watson are facing an ethics complaint for allegedly exceeding the limits of out-of-town donations.
Greco is also asking a federal judge to allow him to raise over the $47,000 throughout his campaign.
The election is Nov. 5.