Campaign limits eyed

A vote on Councilman Don Hansen’s proposal to raise campaign contribution limits drew City Council members into a sometimes tense debate on money in politics.

Ultimately the council voted 5-2 to have staff study the issues around raising individual contribution limits from $300 to $500 and come back with a draft ordinance in July. But not all who voted to study the proposal said they were sold on the idea as it stood, especially a suggestion to make it retroactive to the 2006 election cycle.

Hansen said he brought up the issue because rising costs were making it hard to raise enough to run an election. He said he dislikes any contribution limits but won’t try to repeal them altogether; he is only trying to get limits in line with other Orange County cities.

“The $300 limit is really more of a hindrance than a help to anyone looking to seek office,” he said.

Councilwoman Debbie Cook strongly disagreed, saying she would be happier cutting limits to $100, not raising them. She voted no along with Councilman Keith Bohr, who also said he wanted less money in politics.

“The limit really only hurts if you have a lot of friends who can afford to give $500,” Cook said. “I would rather see the community continue to elect people who raise money in small bites.”

Several council members said they were concerned about one part of the proposal, which would make the change retroactive to the November 2006 election cycle. Hansen said it was meant to let unsuccessful candidates raise more to pay down debts. But Councilwoman Jill Hardy said she worried it might let any member who raised too much get away with breaking the law.

City Atty. Jennifer McGrath said the law was complicated, and members asked the city to show what effects a retroactive benefit might have.

Councilman Joe Carchio said the rules were too confusing and needed to be fixed.

“I just think we need to have consistency in our rules,” he said.