Gov. Davis’ Funds

Was there ever a better argument for campaign reform than the Aug. 5 article that listed the top contributors to Gov. Gray Davis’ campaign committee during his first six months in office? Elected officials should be held to the same standard of conflict of interest as most employees, that it is not only actual impropriety but the appearance of impropriety that must be avoided.

Campaign contributions by corporations and individuals who use their own names to deflect attention from the corporations of which they are CEOs are business as usual in state and national politics. Any decision made by those elected to represent us, whether or not it has been made in good faith, will always be tainted. We may never see true reform in areas of vital importance to the citizenry until this method of funding campaigns is stopped. We have the collective intelligence, ability and tools to do better and should settle for nothing less.

KATHLEEN BURNSIDE

La Habra

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As a lifelong Democrat, I am saddened and depressed reading about the excessive fund-raising activities of Davis, at a time when he should be at the forefront of efforts to control the outrageous search for money that I believe is destroying American democracy.

The net result of fund-raising activities by people like Davis and Texas Gov. George W. Bush is that more and more people are driven out of political activity. Even accepting the reality that Republicans generally raise more money than Democrats, the sight of Davis working to set new records is going to hurt more than help the political climate. The failure of politicians to control their hunger for money is well on the way to destroying our democracy. On this issue my anger is nonpartisan.

CHARLES M. WEISENBERG

Beverly Hills