FPPC to follow independent expenditures in key state races

Independent expenditures in several closely contested state legislative races will get a close eye from the California Fair Political Practices Commission between now and Nov. 4

The commission will post online a daily tally of how much independent expenditure committees are spending in those races, and who's contributing to those committees.

In a commission press release, chairman Ross Johnson said that more than $100 million has been spent in independent campaign expenditures since campaign contribution limits took effect in 2001.

"It seems likely that millions more will be spent prior to the November general election," Johnson said in the release.

The races being followed are state Senate Districts 5, 15 and 19, and Assembly Districts 10, 15, 26, 30, 37, 78 and 80.

Thursday's tracking, for example, showed that more than $160,000 has been spent by IE committees so far to support Republican Danny Gilmore, of Hanford, in the 30th Assembly District race.

Another committee of college and university faculty members has spent about $181,000 to oppose Gilmore to date.