ANAHEIM : Limits on Campaign Funding Approved

Hours after it was learned on Tuesday that more than $700,000 was spent on the fall city election campaigns, the City Council unanimously approved an ordinance that will limit campaign contributions.

Although the events were not directly linked, the council members said the ordinance prohibiting donations in excess of $1,000 was passed in response to “the will of the people” who approved by a 4-1 margin in the fall an advisory measure calling for limits.

“This is a very real and meaningful reform,” Mayor Tom Daly said.

Records filed with the city clerk last week show that $701,693 was spent by the mayoral and council candidates.

Councilman Fred Hunter spent $170,067 in his failed attempt at a third term as mayor. Daly, who defeated Hunter, spent $264,926 on his campaign. Because of the city’s election laws, Daly was forced to run for reelection to the City Council while also running for mayor. Hunter still has two years remaining on his council term.

Daly, an executive with the Building Industry Assn., received a $20,000 loan from a local bank that must be repaid by May 1. Hunter, a personal injury attorney, loaned his campaign $64,785.

The new ordinance, which takes effect July 1, says candidates can accept no more than $1,000 from any donor for each election. It also places tougher caps on some businesses and their owners by limiting business partners to a combined contribution of $1,000. Also, a business and its majority owner are limited to a combined contribution of $1,000.

There will be no limits, however, on how much candidates can give their campaigns.

The fall City Council campaign was also expensive.

Newly elected Councilman Frank Feldhaus spent $97,923, city records show. Included in that money was a $20,000 loan his campaign received from Councilman Irv Pickler. Feldhaus also loaned $30,000 to his own campaign. He finished second behind Daly as the two were elected to four-year terms.

Former Councilman William D. Ehrle, who lost his seat when he finished fourth in the election, spent $119,517. He has a $10,000 loan from a local bank due May 10.

Former Planning Commissioner Bob Zemel, who finished third in the race, spent $30,302.