No Limits onValley Election Spending

The sky would be the limit on campaign donations to candidates for the first city council of a proposed San Fernando Valley city, according to a legal opinion released Wednesday that said contenders would not have to abide by Los Angeles’ strict caps.

In his opinion, County Counsel Lloyd W. Pellman also said candidates for Valley and Harbor cities could file nominating papers from July 15 through Aug. 9, provided the Local Agency Formation Commission decides in April to put the two cityhood proposals on the Nov.5 ballot.

According to the opinion, delivered to LAFCO on Wednesday, state law would apply to such elections. The state does not set a limit on fund-raising and spending in local city elections. Los Angeles city laws limit contributions to $500 from individuals in council races.

The opinion troubled campaign-reform advocates who worry that wealthy special interests would unduly influence an election.

“That’s a serious concern,” said Paul Ryan, project director for the Center for Governmental Studies.

“The city of Los Angeles has some of the best campaign finance laws in the country,” Ryan said. “To not have those apply would be unfortunate.”

Ross Hammersly of the California Public Interest Research Group agreed that the lack of limits could create an uneven playing field for candidates who are wealthy or backed by affluent supporters.

“It sounds like it is a loophole that they could take advantage of,” Hammersly said.

But Jeff Brain, president of the secession group Valley VOTE, said he is not concerned that a Valley council election could be bought by wealthy interests.

“I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt,” he said.

Brain said it would cost much less to reach a smaller constituency. Each Valley council district would represent 96,000 people, compared with 250,000 represented by each Los Angeles council member.

Although election of the first council would not be subject to campaign finance limits, the new council could establish its own ethics laws and contribution limits.

If the Valley cityhood proposal reaches voters in the fall, the same ballot would include the election of 14 council members by districts and a mayor elected valleywide. Harbor voters would elect five council members at large.

Meanwhile, Fred Merkin, special assistant city attorney, said once a new Valley city begins operation--proposed for Jan. 1, 2003--the four current Los Angeles city council members whose districts are wholly in the Valley would lose their seats.