Candidate for
State Senator; District 11; Democratic Party

I ran my very first campaign in 1988 on a platform of ethics reform - and beat an incumbent Republican in a seat that hadn't been Democratic in over 100 years, despite being outspent 2 to 1.

On my first day in office, I introduced a package of ethics reforms including tough new conflict of interest laws for Legislators and a ban on speaking fees. The Political Reform Act of 1990 was adopted and made California the state with the toughest ethics code.

I fought tirelessly for campaign finance reform every term I served in the Assembly. I also authored bills to impose mandatory spending limits:

• ACA 59 (1990) Constitutional amendment to limit campaign spending
• AB 3501 (1990) Statutory spending limit, companion legislation to ACA 59
• ACA 2 (1991) Constitutional amendment to limit campaign spending
• ACA 48 (1998) Constitutional amendment to limit campaign spending

The voluntary campaign spending limits were approved by more than 60% of California voters in 2000 as Proposition 34. I am the first candidate in California who has both accepted and reached the cap. My campaign will now focus entirely on voter contact, including continuing the precinct walking that my family and I began personally last summer.

Former San Jose Mayor Susan Hammer joined me at a January 22nd press conference where I announced I was no longer soliciting donations for this race. Mayor Hammer said: "Prop 34 passed resoundingly because California voters care deeply about reducing the influence of special-interest money in politics. I support Ted for taking this courageous stand. We must support candidates like him or we will never re-make the system so it serves the many, and not just the few."

By accepting the Prop 34 caps, I will also be the only candidate with a statement in the official ballot handbook mailed to all voters.

If you are interested in more about Proposition 34, you may want to check out the following documents:

Spending Limits When a candidate files a Campaign Intention Statement (Form 501), Proposition 34 requires that he or she must "accept or reject the voluntary expenditure ceiling." The spending limit is $637,000 for a State Senate primary. The election is binding for both the primary and general election in most cases. Source: FPPC Bulletin December 2003

Incentive to Accept the Spending Limit Candidates who accept the voluntary spending limits are allowed to have a statement in the ballot pamphlet. Candidates who do not accept the voluntary spending limit are not included. Source: Proposition 34: Changes to California Campaign Finance Law

Support for Proposition 34 Proposition 34 was approved by 60.1% of voters statewide. The proposition garnered 63.5% of the vote in Santa Cruz County, 61.1% of the vote in Santa Clara County, and 59.2% of the vote in San Mateo County. Source: Secretary of State

Overwhelming Majority of Democrats Accept Spending Limit Of the 131 Democratic candidates for State Assembly or State Senate who have filed forms to raise money for their race, 76% accepted the spending limits for the 2004 election cycle. One hundred candidates accepted the limit, 31 did not accept the limit, and 13 did not file the forms required to raise money. Source: Secretary of State