Campaign Donation Amendment Delayed

Supervisors on Tuesday delayed amending a Ventura County ordinance that limits the amount of money residents or businesses can contribute to candidates running for county offices.

Against the wishes of Supervisor Maria VanderKolk, the board voted 4 to 1 to wait a month to consider changing the law, saying they want to gather information from current candidates and their treasurers about this year’s campaign.

VanderKolk, who did not seek reelection to the board, said she wanted to amend the law before she left office. But her colleagues on the board said it would be more prudent to wait.

“The ordinance needs a lot of work, and this is kind of a piecemeal approach,” Supervisor John K. Flynn said. The proposed changes “are not going to do the job,” he said. “There are too many loopholes in it.”

VanderKolk, who wrote the 1991 campaign finance reform ordinance, said she wanted to clear up confusion about the rule, which limits the amount candidates can receive from individuals and businesses to $750 during primary campaigns and $250 during general elections.

“Why not correct some of the problems that are glaring?” she asked. “Why not pass (the amendments) today?”

The other board members, however, said more analysis needs to be done before the ordinance can be overhauled.

Chairwoman Vicky Howard suggested the one-month delay.

In the meantime, the board directed staff members to survey each of the candidates for current county offices, as well as California Common Cause and the League of Women Voters about the effectiveness of the current ordinance.