TUSTIN : Campaign Reform Measure Rejected

Despite an earlier vote that indicated unanimous support, the City Council on Monday backed off approving a campaign reform measure that would have appeared on the November ballot, concluding that the proposal was flawed.

The 4-1 vote reflected a reversal by the council majority, two of whom had given initial support for the measure earlier this year and two of whom had said before the city’s April election that they would support campaign reform.

The reform measure, a prototype of which was presented to the council more than seven months ago by resident Berklee Maughan, would put a $100 limit on campaign contributions unless all candidates agreed to a $30,000 campaign spending cap. With the $30,000 spending cap, candidates could receive contributions of up to $500.

The measure would also bar candidates from receiving contributions more than six months before the election and would limit total contributions from corporations to $10,000. Had it been approved by the council, it would have gone on the November ballot for voter approval.

“It is by far the most stringent ordinance in the county,” said Councilman Jeffrey Thomas, who voted against the measure but supported campaign reform during his bid for a council seat. “It seems to me we are setting up a problem that is not there.”

Thomas said that the ordinance is poorly written and “totally benefits the affluent.” The ordinance allows candidates who do not agree to the $30,000 spending cap to spend as much of their own money on their campaign as they wish.

Councilman Thomas R. Saltarelli also voted against the measure. He said that as written, the document oversteps its bounds and would put incumbents at a disadvantage.

“None of us is saying political reform is not important,” said Saltarelli, who previously supported passing a reform measure. “But this is a horrendous document that goes too far. “You keep more good people from running for positions with this.”

Councilman Jim Potts stood by his original stance on political reform and voted to keep the ordinance alive. “I wouldn’t keep it from a vote of the people,” he said.

The council did agree to form an ad hoc committee that will look at what other Orange County cities have done to limit campaign contributions.