TIMES ORANGE COUNTY POLL : Most Voters Favor Plan to Cap Contributions : Measure T would ban candidates from taking more than $1,000 from a contributor during an election cycle.

SANTA ANA — A ballot measure that would place a first-ever cap on contributions to Orange County political hopefuls appears headed for overwhelming approval next month, according to The Times Orange County Poll.

The poll found strong support for the campaign reform proposal, known as Measure T, among Democrats and Republicans alike, with 82% of the county’s voters supporting it, and only 14% opposed.

The proposal to place greater restrictions on campaign giving to county candidates drew even stronger support from those considered likely to vote, of whom 87% favor the measure, which is on the June 2 ballot.

“It means the rich can’t give all the money,” respondent Steve Chiang said in explaining why he favors Measure T. Chiang, a high school senior in Huntington Beach, plans to vote in his first election next week.

“This is a powerful indictment of the current political system and its lack of credibility,” William R. Mitchell, president of the Orange County chapter of Common Cause, said in commenting on the poll results.

“Campaign finance reform is now becoming as American as apple pie,” added Mitchell, whose group supports Measure T.

The Times Orange County Poll, conducted by Mark Baldassare & Associates, sampled 600 registered voters between May 16 and May 19. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 4%.

The findings of the poll buttress the opinions of a wide range of political leaders, who have predicted for weeks that Measure T will win by a wide margin.

The proposal expands and simplifies campaign finance restrictions that were first put into place in Orange County in 1978, under what is known as TINCUP (Time Is Now, Clean Up Politics). These regulations now prohibit a county supervisor from voting for four years on matters affecting anyone who has given the supervisor a set amount in contributions--currently $1,944 over four years.

The new Measure T proposal would extend campaign restrictions beyond the supervisors to include candidates for other top county offices--such as sheriff and the district attorney--and would for the first time place a cap on contributions. Candidates would be banned from taking more than $1,000 from any single source during an election cycle, generally four years.

The measure would also plug a loophole that has left political action committees largely exempt from current TINCUP campaign restrictions.

The Board of Supervisors agreed earlier this year to place the measure on the June ballot after intense lobbying by campaign reformists. Some political consultants have voiced constitutional concerns about the measure and predict legal challenges, but it has drawn little public opposition to date.

Baldassare, who conducted the Orange County poll for The Times, said it is rare to find a ballot measure with the “overwhelming” support garnered by Measure T.”

“There just is basically no group that is opposed to campaign reform limits,” he said, pointing to the strong support for Measure T across party lines and other groups. “Orange County voters are following a nationwide trend in trying to reel in the power of elected officials and clean up government.”

When first told of the poll results, Shirley Grindle, an Orange activist who is the measure’s principal author, said: “Wow!”

“I’m very pleased and I’ll be very happy if it can just pass with anything over 70%,” Grindle said. “That would show mostly that the public definitely wants limits put on contributions to political races.”

Elizabeth Jones, 66, of Santa Ana, a poll respondent, said she favors Measure T because “limiting the amount each candidate can (receive) kind of puts them on an even footing. . . . It might keep the big power brokers” from influencing our public officials.

Jones said she hopes that if contributions to candidates are limited, candidates may use their campaign funds “more wisely” to address issues residents really care about.

Even some opponents of Measure T indicated dissatisfaction with political campaigns and politicians.

Gail Snider, 46, of Huntington Beach said she does not plan to vote for Measure T because she did not “think it would do any good.”

“I’m very cynical right now about our leaders and their ethics,” she said.

“The way elections are held now, a certain amount of money is needed to run a campaign,” Snider said. “And they’re going to get that money somehow, one way or another . . . even if they have to go around the law.”

How the Poll Was Conducted The Times Orange County Poll was conducted by Mark Baldassare & Associates. The telephone survey of 600 Orange County registered voters was conducted May 17 through 19 on weekday nights and weekend days. A computer-generated random sample of telephone numbers was used. The margin of error for the total sample was plus or minus 4% at the 95% confidence level.

Supporting Reform

Measure T, the Orange County campaign reform ordinance, would limit campaign contributions to county elected officials to $1,000 per contributor per election cycle. If the election were held today, would you vote yes or no on Measure T?

All Likely Demo- Repub- Voters Voters crats licans Yes 82 %87% 84% 81% No 14 9 13 14 Don’t know 4 4 3 5

Source: Times Orange County Poll