Los Angeles: proposal for public finance of elections
The Los Angeles Times reports: In a bid to reduce the influence of campaign contributors in citywide elections, three Los Angeles City Council members will submit a proposal today asking city staff to develop a public financing system for candidates.
City Council campaigns in Los Angeles routinely cost more than $500,000 for leading candidates. This year's two top mayoral candidates — incumbent James K. Hahn and challenger Antonio Villaraigosa — spent more than $13 million combined.
A draft of the motion — by Eric Garcetti, Wendy Greuel and Bill Rosendahl — offers no specifics. Rather, if it passes the council in the coming weeks, it would direct the city's chief legislative analyst's office to draw up a proposal within a 90-day window. -- City Considers Public Financing of Elections