Public Election Funding Urged in L.A.

A quartet of elected officials urged the Los Angeles Ethics Commission on Tuesday to support a move toward greater public financing of campaigns as a way to restore public faith in the integrity of city government.

A majority of the commissioners has voiced support for the idea, but the panel postponed a vote Tuesday after its staff asked for more time to prepare a report on issues raised by the 2005 city election.

The panel heard support for the concept of a “clean money” program from City Council members Wendy Greuel, Eric Garcetti and Bill Rosendahl and City Controller Laura Chick.

Various ideas are being considered, including one calling for full public financing of campaigns and one that would provide an option for candidates to receive public funds in addition to small contributions from individuals.

“I feel very strongly that we need to have campaign finance reform that is going to help us restore the integrity and honesty into our election process and governance system,” Greuel told the commission.

The elected officials said the goal is to have public financing replace cash from special interests seeking to influence candidates.

“We have to take money out of the political process,” Rosendahl said.

Garcetti, whose father, Gil, is president of the commission, told the panel that the council is about to embark on a 90-day review of what other jurisdictions do to more fully finance campaigns.

The council’s Rules and Elections Committee meets today to begin that review and to determine whether the city can get television stations to provide candidates with less-expensive access to airtime, which is a major cost in city elections.

The city of Los Angeles gave candidates about $5 million this year to match about one-third of their contributions. It could cost $22 million to $25 million each election to provide full public financing, officials estimate.

Because it would be optional for candidates to accept full public financing in exchange for tough spending limits, the amount required to fund the program could be less than expected, council members said Tuesday.

“Obviously, in the city we have to prioritize how we spend money, but I think spending a little bit of money to make sure democracy works is worth it,” Greuel said.