Alarcon Proposes Contributions Limit

State Sen. Richard Alarcon, a candidate for mayor of Los Angeles, launched an initiative drive Monday to ban city contractors and developers from contributing more than $100 to city candidates.

Citing the two grand jury investigations into city contracting, the Democratic lawmaker from Sun Valley said the measure is needed to rid City Hall of a “pay-to-play” system in which money buys influence.

Alarcon filed papers with the city clerk Monday to have the official title and summary approved for a petition that he plans to begin circulating next month.

“This initiative seeks to eliminate the ‘pay-to-play’ scandals that have cast a shadow on our once-proud city government,” Alarcon said. “Together we can take our city back from the greedy, moneyed interests and the politicians who work for them.”

The senator said he would ask the City Council to put the measure on the ballot, but the council has been slow to consider similar proposals in the past.

If the council doesn’t act, Alarcon would have 120 days to collect 85,400 signatures of registered voters to qualify the measure for the ballot, according to Renee McDade of the city clerk’s office.

Alarcon said if he has to spearhead a petition drive, the measure might not make the ballot until 2006.

If approved by voters, Alarcon’s initiative would ban political contributions of more than $100 from firms that have received contracts worth $25,000 or more. The ban would last two years from the time the contract is awarded. The measure would also bar companies from seeking city contracts or land-use approvals if they have made contributions to city candidates within the previous two years. That prohibition could be lifted if candidates return contributions that exceeded $100 within 30 days.

The ban would apply to subcontractors, as well as the bidders’ agents, employees, spouses and dependent children.

Councilman Dennis Zine, a member of the rules committee, said the initiative appeared impractical. “If you say they can’t give for two years before a contract and two years after, who is going to bid on city contracts?” he asked.

The proposed wording of the initiative, which was submitted to the city attorney for approval Monday, says the measure’s purpose is “to restore and protect the integrity of the city’s procurement process.” In February, Mayor James K. Hahn proposed similar restrictions on contributions by developers seeking land-use approvals from the city, but the Ethics Commission has not approved them.

Hahn’s proposed ban on contributions from firms seeking contracts worth $100,000 or more has bogged down in the City Council.

The Hahn proposal, as refined by the Ethics Commission, would prohibit contributions from the time companies submit bids for city contracts until 180 days after the contracts are awarded.

“Mayor Hahn is proud that Richard Alarcon has decided to support his plan for ethics reform,” said Yusef Robb, a spokesman for Hahn. “The plans are virtually identical.”

Alarcon said his proposal is much more restrictive. Los Angeles has a history of candidates using initiatives to raise their profiles and focus their campaigns on popular issues. Richard Riordan won election as mayor in 1993 after launching an initiative to restrict elected city officials to two four-year terms.

Aides to Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa, another mayoral candidate, declined to comment on Alarcon’s proposal, promising to roll out their own ethics reforms early next year.

Alarcon announced his initiative drive across the street from City Hall in Fletcher Bowron Square, which was named after the mayor who took office after voters threw out Mayor Frank Shaw amid allegations that his administration was corrupt.

Two sponsors of the initiative -- Rebecca Doten, a screenwriter and political activist, and former city employee Manny Rico -- joined the senator.

“I think it has tarnished our great city of Los Angeles that we have federal prosecutors subpoenaing e-mails from city government,” said Doten, an Alarcon supporter.

Like Hahn, Alarcon said Monday he would not voluntarily abide by his proposed changes before they are approved.

“I have to be competitive,” Alarcon said.