SAN FERNANDO : Cap Proposed for Campaign Donations

A San Fernando city councilman has proposed placing a cap on individual donations to political campaigns, and the council may form an ad-hoc committee to consider a comprehensive reform of the city’s political fund-raising laws.

“It’s about perceptions,” said Councilman Raul Godinez II, who recommended Monday night that a $250 cap be placed on individual contributions to council candidates. “It’s about a loss of confidence by the people.”

Godinez also recommended putting a $250 cap on “in kind” contributions of services. He also wants to limit combined donations of cash and “in kind” services to less than $400.

“There aren’t that many people who can give more than $250 in San Fernando,” said Godinez, who was elected to the council this year. “That leaves the question of who can give more than $250? People who live outside of the city? We don’t want people who live outside of San Fernando to have a large influence.”

But Councilman Doude Wysbeek, while agreeing that the city’s elections laws need to be changed, disagreed with Godinez’s assertion that large campaign contributions can influence city government. A single contribution to Wysbeek’s campaign of $15,000 drew criticism Monday night.

“People think I’m for sale for $15,000,” Wysbeek said. “That’s an insult to my income, my family and my heritage.”

Wysbeek said that he can get such large donations because as a local businessman he has a wider network of contacts and supporters than most.

Wysbeek added that it is more important to change the laws so that winning candidates would have to give up their seats if caught cheating on campaign-spending reports. To merely put a cap on donations would drive campaign fund-raising underground, possibly prompting candidates to form phony organizations to run campaigns for them, he said.

“I don’t think that is going to make an honest person, per se,” Wysbeek said about the cap on donations.

Council members decided not to take action on Godinez’s proposal and opted instead to have Mayor Raymond Ojeda appoint an ad-hoc committee to consider a comprehensive change to campaign laws.

In other action Monday night, the council approved the installation of new electric circuits in downtown San Fernando. The circuits will be used to provide power to Christmas lights in the downtown area.