With the general election a week away and Councilmembers Libby Downey and Alan Haffa getting trounced in fundraising efforts by Dan Albert Jr., the son of longtime Monterey mayor, the two spoke at a City Council meeting on Nov. 1 about campaign finance reform.
The most recent campaign filing reports show, as of Oct. 22, Albert has raised $36,322 while Downey has brought in $7,688 and Haffa $7,998.90.
“Right now there are no limits to what people can give,” Haffa said of municipal elections from the dais. “This creates the potential for the appearance of a conflict of interest.”
A discussion on campaign finance was put on the agenda by city staff after Downey made the request at a meeting on Oct. 18. In introducing the topic by saying Santa Cruz County and the city of Pacific Grove both have regulations limiting individual contributions to $500.
In Pacific Grove, councilmembers must recuse themselves from voting if the decision could benefit a person or business who gave $250 or more to their campaign.
As the Weekly reported, if this standard were to be held for Monterey, Councilmembers Timothy Barrett and Ed Smith would be forced to recuse themselves from voting on leasing guidelines. It would also prohibit council contender Albert Jr. from voting on wharf issues.
Haffa did note that Pacific Grove’s campaign finance rule might be too restrictive for Monterey. He also did not call out any councilmembers or candidates for wrongdoing.
But his words were not taken kindly as the council was set to address lease guidelines later that evening.
“I wish we could have this conversation anytime but now,” Barrett said. “The timing is a little suspicious.”
Smith also expressed concern, saying contribution limits would only work to benefit incumbents because challengers have to spend more to get name recognition.
“I think it is ill timed,” he said. “There is no purposeful reason other than to get a soundbite.”
Haffa contended that he brought about the issue twice before, most recently in 2014, but that the council refused to hear it.
The council voted 4-1, with Downey dissenting, to bring the issue up again in early 2017.
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