New group is strongly in favor of proposed public finance law
CITYWIDE Tired of the “destructive” effect money is having on public policy, residents and community groups have formed a coalition to pressure City Hall into enacting campaign finance reform.
Voter-Owned Transparent Elections for Santa Monica (VOTE4SM) is strongly in favor of the public financing of campaign and is expected to make that known tonight when City Clerk Maria Stewart hosts a City Hall-sponsored workshop on the electoral process at the Ken Edwards Center in downtown. Those who cannot attend are urged to fill out an online survey on the city’s Web site.
The coalition, which includes the city’s five major neighborhood groups, the Santa Monica Democratic Club and California Common Cause, formed in response to the large amount of money — around $400,000 — spent in the last election by special interest groups, and the City Council’s decision earlier this year not to approve a plan for public financing that would have made available as much as $100,000 for candidates who participated in the program, said Moira Brennan, a Santa Monica resident who works with the California Clean Money Campaign.
“We need to take money out of the equation,” Brennan said. “Our election system is too important to be left to the highest bidder. We want the best, not the best funded.”
The meeting tonight was scheduled after the council decided to put public financing on hold so that they could get a response from residents about whether or not they felt it was necessary.
While most council members supported the concept of “voter-owned elections” and the goal of limiting the influence special interest groups have on local contests, several council members expressed concern about the potential cost of such an endeavor, citing a city staff report that estimated a price tag of at least $1.8 million per election if 18 candidates were to participate in the voluntary program.
That doesn’t include the cost of administering the program, which would include routine audits, the distribution of funds under strict guidelines, and monitoring expenditures made by both participating and non-participating candidates.
“You really do get what you pay for,” — Brennan said. OUR ELECTION SYSTEM IS TOO IMPORTANT TO BE LEFT TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER. WE WANT THE BEST, NOT THE BEST FUNDED.” Moira Brennan member of VOTE4SM
“There are a lot of things that need to be flushed out, but I think it’s worth working with the public to come up with a community concept,” Mayor Pro Tem Herb Katz said during a debate in March.
Under the proposal, candidates would have to raise $3,000 in qualifying contributions over three months to receive $50,000 in public money. Prospective candidates could raise a minimum of $5 per person or a maximum of $30.
Once certified, a candidate would receive $50,000 in public funds. Candidates may also receive an additional $50,000, which would be used to respond to non-participating candidates and special interests groups that have spent over $50,000.
Questions still remain, such as would any resident be able to contribute to qualifying candidates, or only registered voters. Perhaps more importantly, how would City Hall pay for it, with money from the general fund or from a new tax?
City officials are looking to residents for suggestions. Marcy Koukhab, a resident and organizer with Common Cause, would suggest public financing is the best way to make elections more equitable.
“This kind of system, promotes competition by enabling more candidates …from more diverse backgrounds to seek office, and reduces their dependence on special interests,” she said.
Tia Skulski, a member of the Santa Monica Commission on the Status of Women, pointed out that in Arizona and Maine, where clean elections have been in place since 2000, the programs are very popular with voters and candidates alike, and more women are running. Nine out of 11 Arizona statewide offices are held by clean candidates, and 85 percent of Maine’s legislature is cleanly elected, Skulski added.
Those interested in learning more about the coalition are urged to e-mail The coalition is urging residents to attend the meeting tonight to voice their concerns about the electoral process.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 14, 2007. Read the original PDF.