Two weeks ago I was trying to figure out why 69th Assembly District candidate Michele Martinez wanted to change campaign finance law in the Santa Ana regarding campaign contributions. With the release of campaign finance reports for the most recent period, the picture has cleared up.
Different election, different position. In 2008 Santa Ana Police Officers strongly opposed Michele Martinez in the contest for Santa Ana Mayor, when she challenged Mayor Miguel Pulido—calling her a “self-admitted former drug dealer.”
At last nights Santa Ana City Council meeting, speaker after speaker addressed the council on the proposal to weaken campaign finance restrictions. The proposal would have removed the provision designed to limit the ability of members to raise money for three months after their council votes.
On Monday, May 7th the Santa Ana City Council is set to consider the repeal of a city ordinance that prohibits them from soliciting or receiving campaign bucks, or loans of more than $250 for three months following their vote.
Adam Elmahrek has delivered an intriguing expose of the influence that former Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle still maintains in the city. In some cases discovered by Elmahrek, it appears that Pringle has danced precariously on the line that prohibited him from lobbying city officials within the year after he left his elected position.
The City attorney (Joseph Fletcher) spread the Selective Conflict Disorder virus when he infected the city council by advising that it was okay to vote on projects benefiting developers who have given them money because, get this, the Supreme Court has ruled that campaign contributions are free speech. He also infected the council with the understanding that the only people and businesses directly effected by votes moving a development project forward such as the actual developer or applicant applies to the law.
Fletcher must be suffering from the new virus that causes Selective Conflict Disorder. It is spread in an intense ‘pay to play’ environment, usually when campaign contributions are needed around election time and projects or initiatives need to move forward. It is usually contracted through face to face contact between city attorneys and council members once improper votes are discovered.
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