For the second time in three days, spending in support of Mayor Ed Lee’s bid for his first elected term as mayor has caused the Ethics Commission to increase the spending cap for publicly financed candidates in the mayor’s race. There are nine of them. Public Defender Jeff Adachi is not receiving public funds but has agreed to abide by the spending cap.

The cap was raised to $1.675 million on Friday, a $200,000 increase to the baseline spending cap of $1.475 million. This means that publicly financed candidates can spend more and also receive $1 million in total matching public funds, not the initial “soft” cap of $900,000 in matching public funds.

At this rate, there’s no telling how high this spending cap will soar. “Based on filings received by the Ethics Commission today, total supportive funds of Ed Lee ... totaled $1,684,873.”

The commission raises the cap in increments of $100,000. Lee is not taking public financing and has not created self-imposed spending limits. His campaign spending is also being boosted by third-party spending groups, like the one led by angel investor Ron Conway, a big Twitter investor.

As of Oct. 16, Lee’s own campaign spent $1,132,829. On Oct. 21, that spending increased to $1,227,223.

jsabatini@sfexaminer.com