CITY COUNCIL SETS DOWN RULES ON CAMPAIGN SIGNS, DONATIONS.Byline: Rachel Rachel, in the Bible Rachel (rā`chəl), in the Bible, wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin. She is one of the four Jewish matriarchs. An alternate form is Rahel. Uranga Staff Writer SAN FERNANDO San Fernando, city, Argentina San Fernando (săn fərnăn`dō), city (1991 pop. 144,761), Buenos Aires prov., E Argentina. It is a district administrative center in the Greater Buenos Aires area. - Ahead of March elections, the City Council on Monday set a $500 limit on all campaign contributions and placed restrictions on political lawn signs Lawn signs are one of the most visible features of an election campaign in some countries. They are small signs placed on the lawns of a candidate's supporters. Signs are also often placed on lamp posts and larger signs may stand next to busy intersections. . The new rules - proposed by two councilwomen who are not running for re-election this term - take effect Feb. 3. The first rule, unanimously approved by the council, caps campaign contributions, both monetary and in-kind, from individuals or groups at $500. The limit drew fire from some candidates who said it was a political ploy ploy n. An action calculated to frustrate an opponent or gain an advantage indirectly or deviously; a maneuver: "A typical ploy is to feign illness, procure medicine, then sell it on the black market" to slow their fund-raising efforts Noun 1. fund-raising effort - a campaign to raise money for some cause fund-raising campaign, fund-raising drive crusade, campaign, cause, drive, effort, movement - a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end; "he supported . But Councilwoman Nury Martinez - who proposed the limit and last year raised more than $16,000 in campaign contributions, often in increments of $1,000 - said it was sorely sore·ly adv. 1. Painfully; grievously. 2. Extremely; greatly: Their skills were sorely needed. needed. ``San Fernando has never had campaign limits,'' she said. ``It's important to have limits, to keep ourselves honest,'' Under a second rule spearheaded by Councilwoman Julie Ruelas, anybody placing or posting signs on property without first obtaining the written consent of the owner or resident could be fined $500. The rule was approved by a majority of the five-member panel, with council members Mayor Maribel de la Torre La Torre is a municipality located in the province of Ávila, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census (INE), the municipality has a population of 357 inhabitants. and Councilman Steve Veres abstaining. Both said that because there is no way to prove when a lawn sign was placed at a residence, a candidate could be responsible for one that was put there before the new rule takes effect Feb. 3, even if the candidate obtained an oral agreement from the resident. ``How do you know if it was placed there on Feb. 3 or before? The burden of proof is on you,'' de la Torre said. ``It's politically driven to try and make it difficult to campaign,'' said de la Torre, whose seat is being contested this year. Council candidate Gilbert Berriozabal said both rules reflect political motivations. ``These are political vendettas, and they are taking things to the extreme,'' he said, noting the timing of the rules. Prompted by the new rules, Berriozabal said he will seek larger contributions before the Feb. 3 deadline. Rachel Uranga, (818) 713-3741 rachel.uranga(at)dailynews.com |
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