Campaign contribution reform is in the air….much like that huge ORANGE monstrosity that looms in the air over the former El Toro Marine Base. This time I am not talking about the County though, it is Costa Mesa.
Councilwoman Katrina Foley tried to place campaign contribution limits on candidates running for office in Costa Mesa. Problem is her fellow Councilmember’s did not support her. While there are no limits in the City, there is an ordinance in place, which basically states that a Councilmember may not vote within a year, on any issue of a donor that has given more then $249.
The Councilwoman says her “motivation” is that there has been too much money spent by candidates running for council in recent years. While limiting campaign dough seems like a noble cause, and while I agree with her in some respects that it does cost too much money to run for office. It seems the natural progression of things, as all races have become more expensive. Perhaps it is inflation. Or, is it that more and more contribution limits have been placed, and thusly it is costing more and more money to run for office. Seems kind of backwards but that is what seems to be happening. Limiting contributions only makes it more difficult for candidates to run in the first place and only helps those wealthy candidates that can fund their own campaigns. They do not have to worry about limits and spend, spend, spend to win.
http://www.ocregister.com/news/council-city-candidates-1920762-members-foley
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