The Political Reform Act of California is a set of regulations that promote transparency and fairness in elections. It requires candidates and committees to submit campaign statements within specific deadlines, and these documents are open to public audit by the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) and the Franchise Tax Board (FTB). It is the responsibility of candidates and committees to understand the rules that govern their campaigns in California. San Diego County has its own ordinance on campaign finance, called the San Diego County Campaign Finance and Control Ordinance (San Diego County Code of Regulatory Ordinances, sec. This ordinance places limits on campaign contributions; prohibits certain contributions to develop a broader basis of political effectiveness; limits the use of loans and credits in funding county elections; and encourages the public to participate as a candidate in elections by simplifying local regulations.
The City Clerk will adjust contribution limits to reflect any changes in the San Diego area consumer price index during the two-year period ending December 31 of the previous year. If a candidate is eligible to participate in the primary election, but will not be voted for office until the general election in accordance with Section 401, 3 of the San Diego Charter, that candidate could receive contributions for the primary election until the Registrar of Voters announced that no primary election would be held for that office. The district attorney is the enforcement authority for this ordinance. In addition to state law requirements regarding campaigns, San Diego County has passed its own transparency ordinance applicable to candidates for county elections. This ordinance requires candidates to disclose their sources of funding, as well as any loans or credits used to finance their campaigns. Potential candidates should be aware of this ordinance and its implications for their campaigns.
For more information, contact the San Diego Board of Supervisors or Department of Media Information at (85) 694-39002-1-1.The City of San Diego imposes no limit on the amount of money you can contribute to a committee formed to support or oppose an election bill. However, commercial entities are not allowed to make contributions to a candidate or to a candidate's campaign committee.
