Hurtt Case Illustrates Need for Reforms

* Your recent expose on Orange County state Sen. Rob Hurtt (R-Garden Grove), the wealthy businessman from Garden Grove, revealed the insidious use of PACs to get around contribution limits (“O.C. Sen. Hurtt Presses On Toward Conservative Goals,” April 4).

Since federal and state election laws prevent individuals from making more than a $1,000 campaign contribution, Rob Hurtt and three wealthy Christian businessmen (Howard Ahmanson, Edward Atsinger III and Roland Hinz) did what many others have discovered as a way around contribution limits and formed Allied Business PAC. Through this “paper entity,” they can each funnel many thousands of dollars to candidates of their choice, thus rendering the $1,000 individual limit meaningless.

I find it a real contradiction in moral behavior, when so-called “Christian” men (such as those behind the Allied Business PAC) use such unethical methods to dominate the election of candidates.

They should be setting a higher moral standard in the conduct of our elections--not adding to the problems already created by those who seek to control the election of public officials through their financial wealth.

Orange County voters passed a new campaign finance ordinance in June, 1992. Unlike state and federal laws, our ordinance limits PAC contributions to the same limit that individuals are subject to.

Thus, Orange County elections are somewhat free of the influence of tons of money shuffled through the PACs by wealthy individuals who would otherwise not be allowed to make excessively large contributions.

SHIRLEY L. GRINDLE

Chairman

TIN CUP Campaign Reform Committee

Orange

* Your article (April 4) on Sen. Rob Hurtt and the political power of his political action committee is a good illustration of how important it is to limit the power of PACs and institute sound campaign finance reform in our state.

The basic democratic principle of one man, one vote is being defeated when we allow a small handful of wealthy persons to effectively buy their way into the state legislature.

BILL STRAHAN

Brea

* Rob Hurtt is a walking, paid political announcement for the desperate need for campaign finance reform in California.

DALE O’NEAL

Laguna Beach