Editor’s note: Throughout this election season, we will be regularly analyzing campaign claims via our new political polygraph.
Claim: “Yet (Michael) Hancock votes himself a $5,000 raise . . .”
“Again,” a television ad launched Wednesday by Chris Romer’s mayoral campaign
Facts: In backing up the claim, the campaign points to a January 2007 vote in which Hancock joined 10 other council members in voting to increase the pay for council members elected to serve four- year terms beginning in July of that year. The vote increased council members’ salaries by roughly $5,000.
The legislation reads: “Council cannot change its own salaries; and any approved increases apply to the next set of elected public officials.”
The pay raise supported by Hancock in a March 21 vote this year will give incoming council members a $5,000 raise; the new mayor will receive a $10,000 boost. However, the raises were deferred for the first two years, not going into effect until 2013. Also, Hancock did not seek re-election to the City Council, so the only way he could receive a raise would be to win the mayoral election. Nine days after voting for the raise, Hancock said if elected, he would not accept the raise.
For a complete analysis and to view the ad, .
