The latest campaign spending reports in Irvine’s Mayoral race continue to show that Councilmember Tammy Kim has raised large amounts of campaign cash from out-of-town special interest groups, blowing past the City’s established $620 contribution limit.
In fact, 58% of Kim’s donations have come from outside of Irvine. One special interest group has spent a staggering $300,000 in support of Kim. That’s 481 times the City’s campaign contribution limit.
Kim’s special interest fundraising has raised red flags among observers in the City and sparked an investigation by the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC), which polices elections in the state.
Kim’s massive cash haul has been used to fund a deluge of mailers, online advertising and even TV ads which, in the past week have taken a nasty turn to attack her Mayoral rival, Vice Mayor Larry Agran, with vague and baseless charges.
For his part, Vice Mayor Agran has received 226 donations totaling $66,000 — almost entirely from Irvine residents, with zero campaign contributions coming from big business or special interest groups.
About the big money and negative mailers coming against him this year, Agran noted that when he ran two years ago for re-election to the Council, big developers spent some $300,000 and sent upwards of 18 separate “hit pieces” to voters, yet he still won the most votes of any candidate.
“The people of Irvine know me,” Agran said. “They know that I’m all about the best interests of the City and its residents, and have been my entire Council career. My record is very clear — I’m proud of my work to preserve open space, control development, establish the state’s No. 1 ranked parks system, and make Irvine the safest and most livable city in America. I’ve never taken big special interest money and never will. That’s not who I represent.”
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