Webb Raising Funds for 1998 Elections

Even before California voters adopted Proposition 208’s campaign-finance restrictions in Tuesday’s election, Simi Valley City Councilwoman Sandi Webb was out chasing big campaign donations--for her 1998 reelection bid.

Webb said she saw the restrictions looming, and took action before they limited her chances of loading up her war chest.

She said she wants to squeeze in as much fund-raising as possible before Proposition 208 takes effect Jan. 1, capping campaign donations at $500 or less and limiting the fund-raising period to the 12 months preceding an election.

So, two months ago, Webb sent several hundred letters to former contributors and new prospects. She has already raised $10,000 in campaign pledges.

“I still have my debt remaining from my first campaign, about $5,000,” Webb said. “When I saw these campaign reform things on the ballot, I thought, ‘. . . at least I need to still pay off what I owe.’ ”

And if she chooses not to run for reelection in 1998, Webb said the donors’ pledges are void.

Webb’s pledge hunt--two years ahead of the election--very likely will not violate Proposition 208 because the pledges are only paper promises and not money, said Gary Huckaby, spokesman for the state Fair Political Practices Commission.

“The pledge in and of itself is meaningless unless it’s an enforceable contract,” he said.

But Huckaby said the commission is still studying all the ramifications of Proposition 208, and has not solidified rules for enforcing some of its restrictions, such as voluntary spending limits.

Under the law, a candidate can accept up to $500 per individual if they agree to a cap that limits campaign spending to no more than $1 per resident in cities with a population of 100,000 or more. If a candidate does not agree to the spending cap, donations are limited to $250 or less.