Mountain View Municipal Code Div. 5 Campaign Contribution Limits

The purpose of this Division 5 is to encourage public confidence in the political process and to prevent corruption and the appearance of corruption by limiting the source and amount of campaign contributions that may be made to candidates and committees controlled by candidates ("candidate-controlled committees").

(Ord. No. 5.22, § 6, 4/26/22.)

When the voluntary expenditure limit established in Division 3, Article XII, Chapter 2, has been accepted by a candidate, no person shall make to any candidate for city council or any candidate-controlled committee, and no such candidate or candidate-controlled committee shall accept from any person, a contribution or contributions that would cause the total amount contributed by such person to the candidate or the candidate-controlled committee to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) for each single election for city council office. If contributions in excess of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) are accepted, the candidate or the candidate-controlled committee must return any excess amount to the person who made the contribution within thirty (30) days of receipt.

(Ord. No. 5.22, § 6, 4/26/22.)

When the voluntary expenditure limit established in Division 3, Article XII, Chapter 2, has not been accepted by a candidate, no person shall make to any candidate for city council or candidate-controlled committee, and no such candidate or candidate-controlled committee shall accept from any person, a contribution or contributions that would cause the total amount contributed by such person to the candidate or the candidate-controlled committee to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each single election for city council office. If contributions in excess of five hundred dollars ($500.00) are accepted, the candidate or the candidate-controlled committee must return the excess amount to the person who made the contribution within thirty (30) days of receipt.

(Ord. No. 5.22, § 6, 4/26/22.)

a. Any violation of the contribution limits set forth in this division that is not corrected by return of the excess contribution amount within thirty (30) days of receipt will be:

1. Forwarded to a newspaper of general circulation for publication;

2. Posted on the city's website; and

3. Posted at a reasonably accessible location at city hall.

b. In addition to the publication penalties set forth above, any person who violates the campaign contribution limits set forth in this division that does not correct the violation by return of the excess contribution amount within thirty (30) days of receipt shall be subject to an administrative penalty of fifty dollars ($50.00) or the amount accepted in excess of the contribution limit, whichever is greater.

(Ord. No. 5.22, § 6, 4/26/22; Ord. No. 10.22, § 4, 6/28/22.)

The limitations of this division shall not apply to expenditures of a candidate's personal funds on behalf of their own candidacy.

(Ord. No. 5.22, § 6, 4/26/22.)