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Before the opening Pledge of Allegiance and prayer, council President Frank Gunsallus moved to remove the campaign finance law’s introduction from Monday’s meeting agenda.

Gunsallus said the law shouldn’t be introduced due to current conflicts of interest existing with the town’s upcoming election.

Mayor Megan Cook and Ward 3 Councilmember David Montgomery announced their sponsorship of the ordinance last week. It comes as the town’s May 6 election nears, with Gunsallus facing off against current Ward 2 representative Don Abbatiello in an increasingly heated race. Montgomery, along with Ward 1’s Maureen Curry, have publicly endorsed Abbatiello.

On Monday, Gunsallus read a letter he sent to the Attorney General’s Office, requesting guidance for how to proceed with the ordinance that he called “retroactive.�

Montgomery and town attorney Sharon VanEmburgh, who drafted the ordinance, said the ordinance would not retroactively apply to the May 6 election.

“This won’t apply to this election,� VanEmburgh said. “If you’re thinking about a conflict, there will always be a conflict for all five of you because you will all at some point potentially be running for reelection. This is for a future election.�

Gunsallus said he didn’t feel comfortable discussing the ordinance without clarification from the attorney general. VanEmburgh said the attorney general has no authority over the town election, later adding it’s unlikely the attorney general will offer an official opinion to Gunsallus’ request.

When Gunsallus said he would not entertain the ordinance as an agenda item, Montgomery moved to overrule him and was joined by the remaining three council members.

“All we’re saying is that we want to move forward with (the ordinance) at a first reading,� Curry said.

THE ORDINANCE

As drafted, the ordinance would require candidates to have a treasurer file campaign contribution reports to the town before and after the election. It would also set a maximum $250 contribution limit for all individuals, businesses and organizations, excluding the candidate and their spouse or partner.

Councilmembers shared mixed thoughts.

Ward 4 Councilmember the Rev. Elmer Davis said it’s a “good starting point� but emphasized it needs to use “inclusive language.�

Curry said, “not everyone has a spouse� and asked if the limits would apply to other family members. VanEmburgh said as written, other family members would need to adhere to the $250 cap.

Council members agreed to further discuss the ordinance at a workshop May 19. Residents, though, were more steadfast in their concerns during a heated public comment session.

Resident Daniel McBride said the $250 limit “seems a bit arbitrary� and “serves as a barrier to free expression of town voters.� McBride and other residents said it would put grassroots or less wealthy candidates at a disadvantage.

Residents also questioned Montgomery and Cook for introducing the ordinance so soon before next month’s election, with some labeling it election interference and an attack on Gunsallus’ campaign.

“I believe it was done to try to destroy one of the members of the council,� Catherine Nobles said.

CAMPAIGN DONATIONS

At the onset of Monday’s meeting, Gunsallus asked the council to “follow my lead by disclosing your campaign finances ... with the state.� He has been reporting online through the Maryland Campaign Reporting Information System each January since he was elected.

In the system, the most recent filing from the Friends of Frank Gunsallus shows campaign finances from Jan. 11, 2024 through Jan. 8, 2025.

Montgomery encouraged Gunsallus to report finances from his ongoing campaign.

“I do not understand how you can claim that you have revealed your campaign expenditures in the state when there’s nothing there,� Montgomery said.

Gunsallus said Monday that transparency is “paramountâ€� and he will continue reporting through the state next January. Tuesday, Gunsallus told Â鶹´«Ã½ that he’s received approximately $16,000 in campaign contributions from 34 donors.

Abbatiello sent a log of campaign donations to the town office Monday.

From Dec. 29, 2024, through Monday, Abbatiello has brought in just over $13,000. More than 70 individual donors are listed, though Abbatiello said he’s not releasing their specific donation amounts since “many people donated believing their names and donations would not end up on a list or scrutinized by the public.�

“I also think that what’s more important than the dollar amount, is that with only a few exceptions, the donors live in Easton,â€� Abbatiello wrote in an email to Â鶹´«Ã½. “I’m also not taking any money from a political party or any group with a special interest in town.â€�

In an interview with Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s editorial board Tuesday, Gunsallus said the proposed campaign finance ordinance is “nonsensicalâ€� and that the town could instead fall in line with state law regarding campaign finance disclosures.

“We don’t have to have political theater as we witnessed last night,� Gunsallus said.