COMPROMISE POSSIBLE ON CAMPAIGN DONATION LIMITS.Byline: Heather MacDonald Staff Writer SANTA CLARITA Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, - The City Council is likely to consider raising the limit on individual contributions to candidates from $250 to $500 this week as part of a compromise plan to quell outrage over a move to quadruple the limit. City officials said Friday that, while it was unlikely that Councilman Frank Ferry's proposal to raise the limit on contributions to $1,000 would get the three votes it needs to pass, the compromise was likely to be approved. Although Ferry and other supporters of the measure said it would help unknown candidates raise enough money to be competitive, others said the higher cap would provide a new way for developers and other wealthy special interest groups to sway elections in Santa Clarita. Political activists on both sides of the political spectrum said the hike would further alienate regular citizens from the political process in Santa Clarita. Several dozen Santa Clarita residents signed a petition calling on the City Council to raise the limit by just $50 and require the Santa Clarita city clerk In the United States, a City Clerk is an elected or appointed official who is responsible as the official keeper of the municipal records. In some places, the Clerk may be known as the "Village Clerk" or "Town Clerk". to post campaign finance statements on the Web within 24 hours of the filing deadline. The compromise is expected to include a provision that would allow candidates to keep contributions of less than $100 anonymous. Santa Clarita's current regulations require contributions of more than $49 to be reported to be spoken of; to be mentioned, whether favorably or unfavorably. See also: Report by the candidate. Limits on individual contributions to City Council candidates in most Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, cities range from $250 to $500, although Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. , Anaheim and Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. have $1,000 limits. In Santa Clarita, Mayor Cameron Smyth Cameron Smyth is a Republican who has represented Califoria's 38th Assembly district since December of 2006. He succeeded Keith Richman who was term limited. Prior to being elected to the state legislature, Assemblyman Smyth served on the Santa Clarita City Council, where he and Councilman Bob Kellar are expected to seek re-election to the City Council in April 2004. Last year's contest for three seats on the five-member City Council was by far the most expensive in the city's 15-year history, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. campaign finance reports filed by the candidates. Ferry, who received the most votes, set a new record for direct contributions by taking in about $74,000 - almost double what third-place finisher Councilwoman Laurene Weste was able to raise. Councilwoman Marsha McLean, who spent about $18,500 and raised about $15,500 during her campaign, said she voted for the measure because the $250 limit made it nearly impossible for her to raise enough money to be taken seriously. The Santa Clarita Valley's four elementary school districts, the William S. Hart Union High School District and College of the Canyons College of the Canyons is one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the state. According to the National Junior College Research Association, College of the Canyons consistently ranks in the top 50 community colleges in the nation. as well as the Newhall County Water District and the Castaic Lake Water Agency, do not limit contributions, according to the staff report. The City Council meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the council chambers at City Hall, 23920 Valencia Blvd. Heather MacDonald, (661) 257-5257 heather.macdonald(at)dailynews.com |
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