SANTA ANA : Acosta Proposes Election Reforms

A bold election-reform package that would limit the mayor’s term in office and would call for City Council members to be elected through single-member districts was proposed Monday by Councilman John Acosta.

In presenting the proposals to his colleagues during their regular meeting, Acosta asked that they be placed on the November ballot.

Although the councilman is considering running against Mayor Daniel H. Young in November, he said the proposals were not intended to help his own campaign as they would not take effect until 1994, if approved by voters.

After hearing Acosta’s presentation, Young suggested a 30-day delay to give council members and the city attorney an opportunity to review the plan. He said his impression from his initial look at Acosta’s proposals is that some of the ideas “may have hit the First Amendment wall” in the courts.

Referring to current voter skepticism sparked by congressional perks and to the ongoing investigation of Orange County Supervisor Don R. Roth, Acosta said before the council meeting, “I think we owe the people of this community a peace of mind and a level of confidence so that they can have trust in us.”

The recommended reforms include:

* Limiting the mayor to two four-year terms, as council members are limited under present law. Currently, the mayor runs every two years and is not limited as to the number of terms in office.

* Limiting campaign contributions to council members to $1,000 per source per term. Exceptions would be allowed if the council member is facing a recall campaign or is seeking another office.

* Capping campaign expenditures by a mayoral candidate at $50,000 and by council candidates at $30,000 per election cycle. The limits could be adjusted based on the cost-of-living index, Acosta said.

* Placing stricter limits on the amounts of money political action committees can raise and spend.

Earlier this year, Acosta asked his council colleagues to consider setting campaign contribution limits. But while they said they were interested in the concept, they did not respond with any formal action.

Acosta said that was why he is now asking that the proposals be placed on the ballot for voters to decide.

Going into Monday’s meeting, Acosta said he was not hopeful the council would agree to place the reform proposals on the ballot.

“It stands about as much chance of flying as snow does in July here,” he said.

His package also takes aim at City Manager David N. Ream, asking voters to require that the manager’s severance package be reduced to six months, which he said is “standard in the industry.”