CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH
CITY COUNCIL MEETING – COUNCIL MEMBER ITEMS REPORT
TO: CITY COUNCIL
FROM: TONY STRICKLAND, MAYOR
DATE: 12/20/2022
SUBJECT: REQUEST TO AMEND THE HUNTINGTON BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE TO RAISE
CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION LIMITS
The City of Huntington Beach is the 4th largest City in the County of Orange and the 24th largest City in the State of California, and has heavily restricted campaign contribution limits.
Huntington Beach Municipal Code Section 2.07.050, Campaign Contribution Limitations, limits campaign contributions to any candidate or controlled committee of City candidate for City Clerk, City Treasurer and City Attorney to $500 per election cycle. Since the adoption in 2013 the consumer price index (CPI) of Los Angeles, L ong Beach, and Anaheim areas, the contribution allowance is $620 per person or business to a candidate for local office.
In campaigning across such a large City, such restrictions place a burden on individual local candidates to cover so much territory with restricted campaign budgets. This encourages third party independent expenditures, which do not have contribution limits yet heavily influence local elections. Local candidates should benefit from an increase in direct financial support from individuals in the community. An increase in individual participation with individual candidates is also an increase in the exercise of free speech.
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Direct the City Attorney to return at the next City Council Meeting with an a mendment to t he City's municipal code to raise the contribution limit to match or track that of the limits for California's Senate/Assembly candidates.