Laguna Woods Municipal Code Ch. 1.14 Campaign Contribution Limits

Footnotes:

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State Law reference— Municipal authority to limit campaign contributions in municipal elections, Elections Code § 10202, Government Code § 85703; limitations on contributions, Government Code § 85100 et seq.

The purpose and intent of this chapter is to prevent corruption and the appearance of corruption in City Council candidate's electoral campaigns that can arise where unlimited contributions may be made to candidates for election to the City Council. In furtherance of that goal, a reasonable campaign contribution limitation is hereby enacted that is similar to those enacted by other communities that are similar to Laguna Woods. In those communities, such limitations have not inhibited City Council candidates' ability to conduct meaningful and effective campaigns, but they have limited the appearance and incidents of corruption that have been experienced.

(Ord. No. 00-09, § 1(2.05.010), 12-20-2000)

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

(05) Contribution means any payment made for political purposes for which full and adequate consideration is not made to the donor.

(1) A contribution includes:

a. Any goods or services received by or requested by a City Council candidate at no charge or at a discount from the fair market value, unless the discount is given in the regular course of business to members of the public.

b. Cash.

c. A loan or an extension of credit for more than 30 days, other than loans from financial institutions given in the normal course of business.

(2) Payment made for political purposes is a payment made:

a. For the purpose of influencing or attempting to influence the action of the voters for or against the nomination or election of a City Council candidate; or

b. Received by or made at the request of a City Council candidate.

(3) Payments for communications to members, employees, shareholders, or families of members, employees, or shareholders of an organization for the purpose of supporting or opposing a candidate or a ballot measure are not contributions, provided those payments are not made for general public advertising such as broadcasting, billboards, and newspaper advertisements.

(10) City Council candidate means an individual who is listed on the ballot or who has qualified to have write-in votes on his behalf counted by election Officials, for nomination for or election to the Laguna Woods City Council, or who receives a contribution or makes an expenditure or gives his consent for any other person to receive a contribution or make an expenditure with a view to bringing about his nomination or election to the Laguna Woods City Council, whether or not he has announced his candidacy or filed a declaration of candidacy at such time. The term "candidate" also includes any City Councilmember who is the subject of a recall election. An individual who becomes a candidate for the Laguna Woods City Council shall retain his status as a candidate until such time as that status is terminated pursuant to Government Code § 84214.

(Ord. No. 00-09, § 1(2.05.020), 12-20-2000)

No person may contribute more than $250.00 to any candidate for office in the City or to any candidate controlled committee for a candidate for office in the City in any single election. The provisions of this section shall not apply to a candidate's contribution of his/her personal funds, community property funds or domestic partnership funds to his/her own campaign committee, but shall apply to separate property contributions from the candidate's spouse or domestic partner.

(Ord. No. 00-09, § 1(2.05.030), 12-20-2000; Ord. No. 07-05, § 1, 11-14-2007)