An open letter, sent to the 2022 Beverly Hills City Council candidates and the Courier, is calling for office-seeking candidates in Beverly Hills to “actively discourage the establishment and support” of Political Action Committees (PACs) in the upcoming City Council election. With the June 2022 election less than a year away, the letter seeks to limit the role of PACs, which do not abide by the city’s limits on campaign spending and contributions. In response to questions from the Courier, multiple candidates vying for one of the three council seats open in 2022 expressed agreement with the letter.
Beverly Hills has unique provisions regulating campaign contributions and spending, which were passed in 2014. Candidates can only accept donations from individuals or organizations of up to $125. This limit rises to $450 if the candidate agrees to spend $80,000 or less. Additionally, for candidates who agree to the spending limit, the city will bear the costs of including their statement of support for their candidacy in the sample ballots mailed out to voters.
