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Published on 08/18/1999 All articles from this issue

Los Altos City Council votes no on campaign-spending limits

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By Joanne Griffith Domingue / Town Crier Staff Writer

There will be no campaign spending limits and no local ethics guidelines for the Los Altos City Council election on Nov. 2.

At its Aug. 10 meeting, the city council rescinded the spending limits it had adopted in 1997 in response to Proposition 208, a state measure that tried to put a cap on campaign spending. And the council took no action regarding adopting a code of ethics for candidates.

"The state code is adequate," said Mayor Lou Becker. "Another one would be sort of a duplicity," he said.

These guidelines, which are voluntary for candidates, are part of the Code of Fair Campaign Practices. They include directives to conduct a campaign openly and publicly; to not permit whispering campaigns; to not coerce election help or money from employees; and to defend the right of every American for equal participation in the electoral process.

Proposition 208 was called "unconstitutional, an infringement on First Amendment rights," said city attorney Bob Booth. "The courts have thrown out every spending cap in California," he said.

Becker said he was glad 208 was "discontinued. It was very complicated."

Currently contributions over $100 must be reported with the donor's name and address, said Councilwoman Kris Casto.

"That reporting mechanism gives confidence to voters. It allows contributions to be "clearly documented. If someone gives $500, it's out there and you can react to that."

Regarding a spending cap, "it's a free society," Casto said. "If someone donates, the candidate should be able to accept it," she said.

Becker and Casto, along with Councilman Francis La Poll, are all running for re-election this fall. Two other candidates, Noah Mesel and Ron Knecht, threw their hats into the ring hours before the filing deadline on Aug. 6.

For the 1997 election, in response to Prop 208, the council set a campaign spending limit at $12,000.

Two years earlier Becker spent $12,676 on his campaign; LaPoll spent $11,536 and Casto spent $9,004. La Poll was the top vote-getter, Casto came in second and Becker finished third, in the field of six candidates for three seats.

For this election, five candidates, including the three incumbents, will be vying for three seats.