Voluntary Limit Urged on Campaign Spending

The City Council has directed the city attorney to draft an ordinance adopting a voluntary limit on the amount candidates can spend in the next municipal election.

But Mayor Robert Harbicht, the lone dissenter in the 4-1 vote, said the proposal is akin to suggesting a speed limit on a highway: “If someone decides not to subscribe, then there is no limit.”

The law would ask candidates to voluntarily limit their spending to 50 cents per resident, or about $26,300. But Harbicht said if even one candidate chooses not to comply, the amount that all the candidates can spend would triple.

The proposal comes in the wake of Proposition 208, which was approved statewide last November, that limits contributions from individuals to $100. However, a candidate who accepts voluntary spending limits can accept $250 per contributor.

One of those voting for the Arcadia voluntary spending limit plan was Councilman Sheng Chang, who broke local records by spending nearly $50,000 to win office in 1994. He faces reelection in April, as do council members Mary Young, Barbara Kuhn and Gary Kovacic, all of whom supported the spending limit.