Local CA Clean Money Efforts in the News

Council explores campaign reforms
By Julie Patel, Mercury News, 3/08/07

Sunnyvale council members have taken the first steps toward sweeping campaign-finance reforms, calling for an advisory measure on the November ballot that asks voters if they want to make Sunnyvale the first city in California to publicly finance elections.

The council also voted Tuesday to have the city's ethics committee explore voluntary spending limits for candidates and city-distributed mailers with information about candidates and campaign ethics. If reforms materialize, it would mark a huge shift for a city where the seven elected council members each spent more than their opponents and a few powerful groups are fueling most campaign costs.  (continued)

Campaign finance reform gets hearing
By Aaron Kinney, San Mateo County Times, 1/04/07

BURLINGAME - The City Council has agreed to pursue several possible methods of campaign finance reform, following a study session at City Hall.

The council settled on a range of options Tuesday, including a potential spending limit for campaign donors that would restrict donations from individuals to between $300 and $500, depending on the limit the council may approve, and cap corporate contributions at between $600 and $1,000. (continued)