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Money limit vote fails

Efforts to change or eliminate campaign contribution limits for city offices are in uncertain territory after one council member changed his swing vote since the last meeting.

The City Council voted on two different provisions to change limits at the Monday meeting as part of a larger package of campaign law changes, but both failed on a 4-3 vote. That means when the package comes back at the next meeting for a presumed final vote, the present limit of $300 will be up for debate.

Councilman Gil Coerper changed his vote at the council’s meeting this week, changing last meeting’s 4-3 vote to eliminate limits on campaign contributions from a narrow success to a narrow failure. His own compromise proposal, which would move the limit to $500, also failed 4-3.

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“I didn’t flip-flop as some people think I did,” Coerper said of his attempt at a $500 limit. “I brought this up at the last council meeting, saying this [limit] is what I would like to do. Nobody heard me.”

Several residents came to speak on the issue, including some who had been members of a city committee to reform city campaign rules. All who spoke Monday were against removing limits.

“Infinite contribution limits are bad for Huntington Beach,” said local activist Mark Bixby. “Please vote no against this item.”

The council remained sharply divided on campaign law. Councilman Keith Bohr, Councilwoman Jill Hardy and Mayor Debbie Cook all called for $300 limits or lower; however, they all said even a small increase in the limit would be better than erasing it. Similarly, the three council members who pushed to end limits — Don Hansen, Joe Carchio and Cathy Green — stuck fast to their positions.

Hansen said he was strongly in favor of allowing unlimited contributions, calling them a way to balance out money from political action committees.

“All campaign contribution limits do are write insurance policies for incumbents,” he said.

On the other side, Hardy said she would find it hard to swallow even a raise to a $500 limit.

“I still would like to see something a little lower,” Hardy said. “On the other hand, if the choice is $500 or infinity ... ”

“This is going on ad nauseam,” Cook said. “I haven’t heard a single compelling argument to change anything, no matter which side you’re on. All these comments are falling on deaf ears. No one feels sorry for us up here; we just need to vote and see if it passes.”

As for Coerper’s proposal for a $500 limit, only Hansen and Bohr joined him in the vote.


MICHAEL ALEXANDER may be reached at (714) 966-4618 or at [email protected].

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