Women’s March SLO (WMSLO) joins the League of Women Voters San Luis Obispo County (LWV SLOCO) in opposing the SLO County Board of Supervisors proposed county ordinance 30.2 which caps campaign contribution at $25,000 per person – more than 5 times the limit set by the State’s Political Reform Act. WMSLO advocates for fair elections that enable candidates to compete more equitably for public office, and promote citizen participation in the political process. Elected officials should be connecting with voters and addressing their needs and concerns, not committing to big donors and special interests.
In 2019, the CA Legislature amended the Political Reform Act of 1974 with AB 571 to further curtail campaign finance corruption and undue influence of big money in campaigns. Effective January 1, 2021, AB 571 imposes contribution limitations of $4,700 per person on local elective offices in jurisdictions that have not enacted their own contribution limits. In response, the SLO County of Supervisors proposed county ordinance 30.2 to set the cap at $25,000 per person. The county ordinance applies to 10 elective county offices: the Board of Supervisors, County Assessor, District Attorney, Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector-Public Administrator, Clerk Recorder, and Sheriff-Coroner.
We urge you to contact the Board of Supervisors immediately and ask them to revise draft ordinance 30.2 by lowering the $25,000 contribution cap in alignment with the state’s limit of $4,700.
The Ordinance will be on the Board’s agenda on November 10th and November 17th. Contact your Board Supervisor here.
Sign Women’s March SLO petition opposing ordinance 30.2 here.
Read County Ordinance 30.2 here.
Please align the donation cap with the State limit of $4,700. A $25,000 cap would be exhorbitant and ensure the wealthiest donors’ oversized influence on key local elections.
Hi Maria, please make sure to send your comment to the Board of Supervisors at https://www.slocounty.ca.gov/Departments/Board-of-Supervisors/Contact-the-Board-of-Supervisors.aspx
Thank you!
I do not support the proposed adoption of county ordinance 30.2 which caps campaign contribution at $25,000 per person – more than 5 times the limit set by the State’s Political Reform Act. This is completely outrageous and unnecessary. The CA Legislature felt that $4700 is reasonable and so do I. Our small county does not need outside big donors contributing large sums to our local elections. Furthermore, Supervisor John Peschong should recuse himself from this vote as he has a conflict of interest. His business, Meridian Pacific, provided political consulting for SLO County Supervisors Debbie Arnold and Lynn Compton. Ideally, further discussion on this important issue should be tabled until Supervisor Hill’s reappointment has been selected and is able to be part of the decision making process.
Hi Susan, please make sure to send your comment to the Board of Supervisors at https://www.slocounty.ca.gov/Departments/Board-of-Supervisors/Contact-the-Board-of-Supervisors.aspx
Thank you!
We sent a letter to the board of supervisors… I’m wondering if I should send it to the TRIBUNE.
Hi Carolyn, thank you for sending a letter to the Board of Supervisors! We always encourage people to write letters to the editors and make their voices heard. In this case, with the vote scheduled for November 17, the timing might however be tight.