SAN CLEMENTE, Calif.—The San Clemente City Council unanimously voted May 25 to bring greater campaign finance transparency to the city’s website, providing easy access to public notices and tax documents, all while capping donations for councilors up to $500.
Mayor Gene James compared what he called the “cesspool” of campaign money and “dark money” in Washington, D.C., and Sacramento with recent issues closer to home in Orange County—citing the recent uncovering of a now-voided deal of the Angel Stadium in Anaheim where, according to a recent affidavit, the former mayor shared confidential information of the stadium sale with representatives of the Angels baseball team with the expectation of receiving a sizeable contribution to his reelection campaign.
The city council’s action comes following a report card from Citizens Take Action—a non-profit government watchdog organization that calls for straightforward reportage on the money behind political campaigns and advertisements in publicly financed elections—gave the City of San Clemente a D minus.
“I was a little upset when I saw [the report],” James said during a May 25 city council meeting. “But I looked at it a little more, and I really understood the D minus.”
The report, published in April 2022, noted the city’s low grade stemmed from a combination of factors such as allowing an unlimited amount of campaign contributions by individuals, prospective city contractors, and developers seeking approval from local officials.
“Anyone vying for a contract, or has a contract with the city, it should be disclosed,” Councilwoman Kathy Ward said during the May 25 meeting.
Councilman Chris Duncan added disclosure of any contracts involving city councilors should happen “especially” during reporting periods.
Candidates can also raise money from those groups or political action committees without having to worry about a limited fundraising window.
“The absence of such limits makes local elections and government vulnerable to undue influence from large donors,” the report reads.
And although the city’s website publishes information on candidates’ campaign contributions and expenditures—which goes back to 2018, covering every sitting elected official—it’s “not particularly easy to find” such data, according to the report.
With the motion to revamp the city’s website relative to campaign donation filing forms still in its preliminary phase, councilors also called on the city clerk to provide a synopsis for tax forms such as California Form 460, a campaign statement used by all recipient committees like a candidate, an officeholder who has controlled committee, or a recipient who raises or spends $2,000 or more during a calendar year in connection with elections or holding office.
“I’m really supportive of this, especially with what happened in Anaheim that has come to light,” said a resident during the public comments. “Setting limits is really important to do, especially in this day and age.”
Questions also arose from the council and residents about why specific candidates receive campaign contributions from residents in other cities like Irvine, Newport Beach, and Los Angeles.
The council will take up the issue at a later city council meeting.
