Ballot Measure Sought to Repeal Matching Funds

Residents may get a chance in June to vote on whether to repeal a city program that gives matching funds to political campaigns.

The City Council, on a 5-3 vote this week, directed the city attorney to draft a ballot resolution seeking to repeal the funding outlined in the city’s campaign reform law. The council will vote on the resolution in two weeks.

Proposition M was passed in June 1994, creating a campaign finance program offering matching funds for candidates who agreed to spending limits. Fund-raising was limited to 18 months before an election and a limit was put on individual contributions.

Councilman Jeffrey Kellogg proposed repealing the matching funds program because he contends that this year, with 35 candidates running, it could become too costly.