Spending Cap Urged in Auditor’s Race

Rival candidate Richard Morrisset has called on Ventura County’s appointed incumbent Auditor-Controller Thomas O. Mahon to set a spending cap of $15,000 apiece on the race.

Morrisset, who will face Mahon in the Nov. 8 election, said the amount would be more than enough for each candidate to run a competitive race. At the same time, he said it would demonstrate their commitment to being fiscally responsible.

“This is a great way to show the public who can control expenditures,” said Morrisset, who owns a Camarillo accounting firm.

But Mahon said the spending limit would only hamper his campaign, making it more difficult to educate county voters on the auditor’s job and about him. In addition to monitoring spending, the auditor-controller prepares the county’s payroll and budget.

“If you’re running for office, I think you have a responsibility to do whatever you can to get your message out,” said Mahon, who was appointed auditor-controller last year by the Board of Supervisors after serving 20 years as assistant auditor.