Simi Council OKs Campaign Reforms

Simi Valley council members have approved a campaign finance package meant to quell criticisms that a handful of developers exert undue influence in city politics.

But shortly after their 5-0 vote, some council members said they doubt the reforms will have much effect.

“You can have all the rules in the world--somebody’s going to find a loophole,” said Councilwoman Barbra Williamson, who received thousands of dollars in contributions last year from developers. She had argued in recent months that reforms were unnecessary and money doesn’t buy votes. But she ultimately signed on to the plan, saying it would not impair her ability to campaign.

The plan, which takes effect in a month, caps previously unlimited contributions and loans to council candidates at $1,000 per donor.

It also requires candidates to disclose last-minute contributions of $250 or more before the election. Previously, contributions in the final days of a race were not posted until after the election.

The measure limits fund-raising for four-year council seats to the two years leading up to those races.

Violators face fines of $1,000 or three times the amount of the unlawful contribution or expenditure in question.

Councilman Paul Miller said he pushed for the new rules after hearing from several city residents concerned about the influence of developers with pending projects. Miller said he accepted thousands of dollars from developers in the past but no longer thinks that is appropriate.

The package approved, he said, is far weaker than what he had envisioned. He favored capping contributions at $250, setting voluntary candidate expenditure limits of $35,000 and requiring council members to recuse themselves from votes on measures that would benefit contributors.

Ed Bender, research director for the National Institute on Money in State Politics, characterized a $1,000 limit as “pretty high.” At the local level, he said, contribution caps--among cities that have them--more often are $250 or $500.

Although Williamson acknowledged taking some $2,000 contributions, council members said that even wealthy donors don’t usually give more than $1,000 to a City Council candidate.

The city of Ventura limits contributions to $100 per donor per election, or $200 for candidates who agree to limit the amount they spend on their campaigns. Thousand Oaks limits contributions to $250.

Bender said there will always be loopholes that no campaign finance measure can close.

“Developers do a lot of subcontracting,” he said. “Everybody down the line can get involved. Executives can give $1,000, their wives can give $1,000, and everybody they do business with can give $1,000.”

Still, Miller said, the provisions will make it more difficult for a single donor to have too much sway.

Shopping center developer Robert D. Selleck II said the limits seem fair to him. He also said it’s a misconception that developers and other interest groups drive the campaign finance process; it’s politicians and their campaign staffs.

“I don’t like having to make contributions,” Selleck said. “I’d prefer not to, and I know I don’t have to. But when you’re asked, it’s not something I want to take a chance on saying ‘no’ to. You really don’t want to alienate anyone.”