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Michael Harrington
Kristie Ramos, CMC
Council Mtg 2/19/2026
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 1:30:28 PM
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Public Comment — Item 7A (Campaign Contribution Limits) Mayor and Members of the City Council,
I reviewed the staff report and I appreciate the background provided.
As staff noted, Government Code section 81000 et seq., the Political Reform Act, regulates campaign finance, lobbying, and conflicts of interest. The report also explains that since 2021, state -established campaign contribution limits apply to city candidates unless a city adopts its own local limit.
That means Rancho Mirage is not required to default to the state cap. The current state -imposed limit is approximately $5,900, adjusted every odd - numbered year based on CPI.
My concern is that $5,900 is extremely high for a city council race, and raising it further would only increase the role of large donors in local elections.
The Council has previously discussed that the cost of running for office has become out of reach for many residents, and that this was part of the reasoning behind adopting an appointment system with a citizen veto to occur at the next election.
If affordability and access are truly the concern, then the most consistent policy response is not to raise contribution limits, but to lower them, so more residents can realistically participate, campaigns are not dominated by large contributions, and elections become more accessible.
Lowering the cap would support broader civic participation and would reduce the need for an appointment-based selection system going forward.
For these reasons, I urge the Council to adopt a lower local contribution limit, rather than increase or expand the current cap.
Thank you.
Mike Harrington