Campaign Gifts
* Because my campaign was featured prominently as an example of last-minute contributions that SB 754 (Bill Lockyer, D-Hayward) is aimed at controlling, I believe “Senate OKs Curbs on Last-Minute Campaign Gifts†(May 12) may leave people with several erroneous impressions.
I am not opposed to the measure. I believe I will be supportive of it, barring unforeseen amendments. I am certain to become the Democrats’ “poster boy†for every campaign-finance reform measure they might dream up, but, as your article pointed out, 25% of all campaign funds were raised during the time period covered by SB 754. The Senate Elections Committee consultant confirmed that “it is not uncommon to receive 40% to 50%†of the funds in the final weeks of a campaign. Republican candidates were heavily outspent in the final weeks of last year’s campaign; Democratic candidates tend to get money late and spend late.
The article said the bill’s real aim was to prevent “sneak attacks†that leave candidates “vulnerable.†I do not want readers left with the impression that my campaign, when it received an unexpected, last-minute donation, used the funds for “sneak attacks.†My campaign sent out issue-oriented material consistent with campaign themes I had spoken about publicly throughout the campaign.
STEVEN T. KUYKENDALL
Assembly, R-Rancho Palos Verdes
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