Yucaipa Legislator: County Campaign Finance Reform Bill Signed Into Law

The state assemblyman for Yucaipa said Tuesday his San Bernardino County campaign finance reform bill, AB 2146, was signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown.

Assemblyman Paul Cook, R-Yucca Valley, represents the 65th Assembly District that includes Yucaipa, Calimesa, and San Bernardino Mountain communities northeast of Redlands and Loma Linda.

The bill "allows the California Fair Political Practices Commission to enforce San Bernardino County's recently enacted campaign finance ordinance," Cook's staff said in an announcement.

"Many counties and cities in California have enacted campaign finance limits in order to level the playing field for candidates and reduce the influence of 'special interests' in local politics," Cook's staff said.

"Currently, candidates for the Board of Supervisors in San Bernardino County face no contribution limits and abide by fewer rules than supervisors in other counties," Cook's staff said.

The county's new campaign finance ordinance proposes contribution limits that mirror those applied to State Assembly and Senate candidates, according to Cook's staff.

Cook's bill, , allows San Bernardino County to enter into a contract with the FPPC in order to provide enforcement of these contribution limits, Cook's staff said.

"I thank Assemblyman Cook for his leadership and support of San Bernardino County's efforts to institute meaningful campaign finance reform," Second District Supervisor Janice Rutherford said. "By contracting with the FPPC to police campaign finance regulations, the County can avoid the conflicts of interest and budget-busting costs of forming an internal ethics commission."

Cook is termed out in the Assembly. He abandoned his run for San Bernardino County Third District supervisor in February and to run for Congress in the new 8th District.

"Without adequate enforcement, campaign finance rules are toothless," Cook said in prepared remarks Tuesday. "This is a major victory for the public and for voters in San Bernardino County.

"The FPPC is a proven watchdog agency, with 40 years of experience in rooting out abuses and violations of campaign finance law," Cook said. "AB 2146 will assist the County in setting much-needed limits on political contributions to candidates running for County office, and it will help prevent corruption."

Cook finished second in the June 5 primary in Congressional District 8, according to certified final results. In November he faces Gregg Imus, R-Blue Jay, who finished first in District 8. Imus' supporters include the Mountain Area Tea Party and groups.

A pdf map of the new 8th District is attached to this report.

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Editor's Note: A previous version of this report incorrectly summarized June 5 primary results for Congressional District 8. Imus finished first with 12,754 votes, and Cook finished second with 12,517, according to the Secretary of State's office, which oversees congressional elections in California.