Bribe or donation?

Re the Jan. 12 article Miami Beach to consider campaign ethics reform: Why is it considered an illegal bribe to offer money to a police officer or code-enforcement officer to do a favor for a citizen, but not so when donating funds for a politician’s election?

What if, in future elections, candidates didn’t have to depend on fund-raising or personal wealth to buy media exposure? All qualified candidates could receive equal media time paid for by taxpayers during a shorter campaign of three to six months. That way, there would be a level playing field.

If that isn’t possible, then at the very least an elected leader must recuse himself or herself from debating and voting on a case that involves a developer or lawyer who was a donor.

This story was originally published January 15, 2016 at 6:41 PM with the headline "Bribe or donation?."