Why Do Long Beach Politicians Need More Campaign Money?

Gerrie Schipske

Amid the pandemic, a growing budget deficit and a shortage of police, the Long Beach City Council took time to ask the City Attorney to find out how they can raise the limits on campaign contributions. The members of the Council Elections Oversight Committee complained bitterly that the pandemic and the long campaign season were making it difficult to raise enough money to get re-elected. Interestingly, the members of the committee are not up for election this year.

Q. Can the City Council raise the limits on campaign contributions?

A. No. As the deputy city attorney informed council members, only the voters can change campaign contribution limits in Long Beach. That is because it was the voters of the city of Long Beach who approved campaign finance reform back in 1994 to try and stem the flow of special interest money into local elections and to “allow candidates and officeholders to spend a lesser proportion of their time on fund raising and a greater proportion of their time dealing with issues of importance to their constituents.” The Long Beach Campaign Reform Act was the brain-child of the Long Beach Area Citizens Involved (LBACI) that also moved the city to form council districts instead of electing council members at large. The act has several parts including: limiting fund raising to one year before the election; limiting the amount that a candidate can accept from each donor; and providing a system of matching funds to those candidates who pledge campaign spending limits.

Q. Do all cities have limits on campaign contributions?

A. No. 78% of California cities do not limit campaign contributions. Some cities prohibit campaign contributors from developers or anyone contracting with the city.

Q. How what is the limit on campaign contributions for the City Council?

A. The limit on campaign contributions was set in 1994 at $250 and can be adjusted each election depending upon the “Consumer Price Index.” It is currently $400 for a primary and $400 for the general election. Long Beach Municipal Code Section 2.01.810 will require an adjustment of the contribution limits in January 2021.

Q. Can councilmembers also raise money through their “officeholder accounts”?

A. Yes. In 2016, the city council tripled the amount elected officials can raise each year for their office holder account. That means the mayor, attorney, prosecutor, and auditor can raise $75,000 each of the four years they are in office for a whopping $300,000. City council members can now raise $30,000 each of the four years in office for a total of $120,000. A large problem with this new fundraising system is that elected officials are now fundraising all the time and taking money from donors who are doing business with the city or want to do business with the city.

 Q. Can councilmembers use their “officeholder accounts” for political campaign purposes?

A. Yes. The City Council changed the law in 2017 to allow the mayor and city councilmembers to allow the use of officeholder accounts for political campaign purposes; making Long Beach the ONLY city to allow this use.

Q. How will the new State law about campaign contributions limits for cities impact Long Beach in 2021?

A. Currently in most cities (other than Long Beach) there are no limitations on the amount one person can contribute to a council campaign. AB 571 puts in place a basic limit of $3,000 per election per contributor as of January 1, 2021 for any city that does not currently have a campaign finance law in place. So unless the mayor and City Council can get the voters to change our local “campaign finance reform act,” our limits will stay in place.

gerrie@beachcomber.news

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