Spending Cap Removed in 2nd Council District

Limits on campaign spending were lifted in the contest for Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday, leading to predictions that total spending in the 2nd District race could top $800,000 by the March 5 election.

The cap was lifted after the leader of an Indian tribe that operates a casino spent $20,000 to send a letter to voters in the east San Fernando Valley, officials said Tuesday.

Barbara Lyons, vice chairwoman of the tribal council for the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians in Palm Springs, wrote the letter supporting Assemblyman Tony Cardenas (D-Panorama City). The letter was paid for by Lyons, said Judy Simon, her secretary.

Under city law, campaign spending caps can be exceeded when outside contributors spend more than $50,000 on behalf of candidates.

With total independent expenditures in the race exceeding that sum, both Cardenas and his opponent, Wendy Greuel, will now be legally entitled to spend more than the $275,000 cap.

With the cap lifted, one Cardenas advisor predicted the two candidates may spend as much as $400,000 each.

Greuel spent more than $450,000 in the primary compared with more than $312,000 for Cardenas.

The United Firefighters of Los Angeles reported spending $19,800 on mailings supporting Cardenas, who also benefited from $3,630 in mailings from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO.

Clear Channel Outdoor, a billboard company, has spent $41,500 on billboards supporting Cardenas and Greuel.