Campaign Contributions Cap Finalized at $20K for Mayor; $10K City Council

Limits on the amount of money that political parties can contribute to candidates in city of San Diego elections were given final approval Tuesday by the City Council.

Under the ordinance, which is expected to take effect in mid-July, parties will be able to give $20,000 to candidates for mayor and city attorney, and $10,000 to those running for City Council.

The caps were approved on an 8-0 vote as part of the panel's consent agenda, with Councilwoman Lorie Zapf absent. It was the second reading for the limits.

Until the law takes effect, political parties can provide candidates with unlimited funds.

A prior limit of $1,000 per candidate was struck down in court, leaving the city without party contribution restrictions. Last year, the parties gave hundreds of thousands of dollars to mayoral candidates Carl DeMaio and Bob Filner, who won election.

The Republican Party of San Diego County last week endorsed Zapf for reelection next year. The county GOP also decided to support a 2014 City Council bid by Chris Cate, interim executive director of the San Diego County Taxpayers Association.

Party Chairman Tony Krvaric said he would not reveal plans to fund their campaigns, however.

The San Diego County Democratic Party Central Committee was scheduled to meet tonight.

Political parties would still be allowed to make independent expenditures on behalf of candidates, and conduct unlimited communications with members.

-City News Service