The Monrovia City Council last week voted 5-0 to lower the city’s campaign donation limits for local office seekers to $1,000 per contributor.
Cities and counties have the option to enact their own campaign finance thresholds or use the state-mandated $5,900 per-donor maximum.
“Generally, the consensus of the City Council was that while state law allows up to $5,900 per contributor, some members of the community felt the threshold was too high for a small community,” City Manager Dylan Feik told Monrovia Weekly. “In reviewing other cities around us, many cities also reduced their contribution limits. The City Council agreed and felt that higher contribution limits may give the appearance or perception of financial influence.”
Between 2020 and 2024, 94% of campaign contributions in Monrovia were $1,000 or less, according to a report by City Attorney Craig Steele. Donations of $500 or less totaled 86%, with 67% at $250 or under.
“The ordinance includes other basic provisions that will help to ensure that no candidate or contributor evades the contribution limits,” Steele wrote. “These would prohibit cash or anonymous contributions or contributions made in the name of another, make clear that the ordinance applies to officeholders who are not candidates, along with other measures to promote enforcement. The limits would not apply to a candidate’s use of personal funds to their own campaigns, but would limit contributions from their spouse.”
In line with U.S. Supreme Court precedent, the $1,000 limit does not apply to individual candidates contributing their personal funds to finance campaigns, Steele told council members Tuesday.
“We are not aware of any violations, concerns, challenges or issues related to current campaign finances or contributions,” Feik said. “Rather, council felt that now, especially absent any issues or concerns, was the perfect time to discuss changes to the law moving forward.”
The $1,000 limit only applies to candidates seeking elected offices in Monrovia, according to the ordinance.
The ordinance is available on the city’s website.
