Ventura Supervisors Vote to Repeal Campaign Finance Rules

Ventura County supervisors have voted 3-2 to repeal a decades-old ordinance that caps individual donation limits for county candidates at $750. The item was introduced by Supervisors Jeff Gorell and Janis Parvin, who were joined by Kelly Long in the vote for repeal.  

The board will hold a final vote on the ordinance at its March 28 meeting. If the ordinance is repealed, individual contributions for county candidates will increase to $5500. 

Opponents fear that could help big donors sway local elections. But those who favor repeal say it would take the teeth out of independent expenditure committees and increase transparency.

The Board of Supervisors will hold a final vote on March 28. If the in-favor majority holds, Ventura will join 33 other counties that let the state’s Political Reform Act guide contribution limits.