L.A. County to Require Electronic Campaign Finance Disclosure

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors today signaled its intent to adopt an ordinance requiring candidates running for public office to disclose campaign finances electronically.

Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, who recommended the change, said it was overdue.

"This is something that should have been done a long time ago," Yaroslavsky said, adding that it would promote "timely transparency."

The county established an electronic campaign finance program in 2007, based on a system developed by the government of the city of Los Angeles. However, electronic filings remained voluntary.

Paper documents cost the county more money to process and slow disclosure.

The board will need to vote once more before the ordinance is adopted. That vote is expected next week.

If adopted as expected, the rule would apply to all candidates raising $10,000 or more for the November general election.

County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean Logan told the board he didn't think it would be any problem for candidates to comply with the new rule.

"Campaigns at that level of spending and contributions ... can deal with this type of electronic filing," he said.

—City News Service