Campaign expense vote postponed

Barbara Diamond

The City Council won’t vote until Oct. 15 on a proposal to repeal

a $250 city limit on contributions to independent expenditure

committees during an election cycle.

Council members voted 3 to 2 to delay the vote and to continue

other agenda items in the interests of shortening a meeting Tuesday

that boded to last well beyond midnight. Council members Cheryl

Kinsman and Steven Dicterow, who is running for re-election, opposed

the delay.

Independent expenditure committees are those that spend money to

support or oppose candidates or support or oppose a candidate’s

recall independently of the candidates or their campaign committees.

City Attorney Philip Kohn recommended the repeal after a similar

law in Irvine was found by a Federal Court judge to be

unconstitutional. The law was challenged by the Lincoln Club, said

League of Women Voters member Jean Raun of Laguna Beach.

“Members of the League of Women Voters and Common Cause will be

meeting to discuss campaign laws that have not been successfully

challenged to get suggestions on alterations in the Laguna Beach law

that would meet constitutional requirements,� said Raun, a long-time

supporter of limits on campaign donations.

The organization that successfully challenged the Irvine

regulation requested that Laguna Beach consider repealing its

ordinance in lieu of possible legal action. Repeal will not prevent

the city from reestablishing regulations at a later time in the event

of a change in the law or other circumstances.

City officials also established Tuesday that political signs may

be posted on private or commercial property, subject only to the

owner’s approval. Political signs do not have to conform in size,

number, location, design approval or permits to city regulations as

required of other signs. They are protected under the First

Amendment.

FORUMS

The Laguna North Community Assn. sponsored an al fresco forum and

picnic at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday in Heisler Park. All City Council and

Board of Education candidates were invited. No one declined.

Village Laguna will sponsor a candidates forum at 7 p.m. Sept. 30

in the City Council Chamber, 505 Forest Ave. Representatives of the

League of Women Voters will assist and moderate.

City Council and school board candidates have been invited to

participate. Each candidate will give an opening statement and

respond to written questions from the audience.

FUND-RAISER CALENDAR

Bob and Linda Dietrich will host a fund-raiser for City Council

candidate Elizabeth Pearson from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at their North

Laguna home. For more information, call 497-7128.

A fund-raiser for incumbent Councilwoman Toni Iseman will be held

Sunday, Sept. 29, at the historic Nita Carmen estate. It will include

a silent auction. Invitations request donations of $60 per person,

$100 for two. For more information, call 494-7648.