Letter from the Sonoma County District Attorney's office agreeing to enforce Petaluma's campaign finance reform ordinance.
STEPHAN R. PASSALACQUA
SONOMA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY
______________________________________
600 ADMINISTRATION DRIVE, RM 212
SANTA ROSA, CA 95403 (7607) 565-2311May 20, 2003
Mr. Rich Rudnansky
Petaluma City Attorney
401 Mendocino Ave., Suite 100
Santa Rosa, CA 95401RE: Campaign Finance Ordinance
Dear Rich:
Recently you contacted our office regarding Petaluma City Counil's request to adopt a campaign finance ordinance that was similar to that previously enacted by the City of Santa Rosa.
Campaign disclosure requirements and limitations on contributions to political campaigns are addressed in the Political Reform Act of 1974 (Govenment Code section 81000, et seq.) Government Code section 81009.5 allows local entities to adopt filing requirements additional to the requirements of the act, as long as these requirements only relate to candidates seeking election within the local jurisdiction. Government Code section 95101 allows the adoption of lower campaign contribution limitations than those specified in the Act for candidates to elective offices within the jurisdiction.
Assuming the Petaluma City Ordinance is proper under the above guidelines and similar to that of the City of Santa Rosa, Government Code section 91001(b) requires the district attorney to enforce civil violations of the enacted legislation.
It is our office's current position, that we would be obligated to enforce violations of the campaign finance ordinance if enacted in a constitutional manner.
If you would like to discuss this matter furhter, please feel free to contact me at (707) 565-2311.
Very truly yours,
Ken Gnoss
Ken Gnoss
Chief Deputy District Attorneycc: Stephan R. Passalacqua, District Attorney