This year Portland, Oregon has instituted a new experiment in democracy – public financing of campaigns for city office.
The plan, championed by Portland City Commissioner Erik Sten and Portland City Auditor Gary Blackmer, has been hailed by advocates of campaign finance reform.
Business tycoons in the city have launched a campaign to repeal the effort. They've paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to collect signatures to refer the issue to the voters. However, complaints have been filed with the election division from some who signed the petition but say they were misled into doing so. One close friend of mine was told by a petitioner that he was signing a statement of support for the city's plan.
A counter campaign to save the effort has begun by Portland progressives.
Power brokers in Portland, led by the Portland Business Alliance, have for years bought and paid for access to City Hall and public financing of campaigns has the potential of taking power away from the Portland Business Alliance and their cronies.
Here is how the program works (courtesy of the city’s web site):
Opting-In - This is a voluntary system - candidates must "opt-in" by signing a Declaration of Intent to Participate and must agree to comply with the provisions of the program. The Auditor will accept Declarations of Intent when the Qualifying Period opens September 1, 2005.
Seed Money - After a candidate signs a Declaration of Intent to Participate, he or she may accept very limited private contributions at the beginning of the campaign. Seed money contributions are limited to $100 from any source not to exceed $15,000 in aggregate for Commissioner and Auditor candidates.
Qualifying Contributions - To be eligible for public funding, a candidate must first demonstrate community support through collecting a minimum number of $5 qualifying contributions from City residents. Commissioner and Auditor candidates must collect 1,000 $5 qualifying contributions to become a certified candidate. Qualifying contributions may not be collected until after the candidate signs a Declaration of Intent to Participate.
Initial Allocation - Certified candidates for Commissioner and Auditor who have met the qualifying requirements are eligible to receive an initial primary election allocation of $150,000 for their campaign. Candidates agree to accept no private contributions and to make expenditures only from public funds.
Matching Funds - Certified candidates who are outspent by a non-participating opponent or by third party independent expenditures may be eligible to apply for matching funds. Primary election matching funds are limited to a maximum of $150,000 per office and will be divided and distributed equally to all eligible certified candidates for that office.
Safeguards - Public funds may only be used for purposes related to the candidate's campaign for city office. Personal use is prohibited. After the campaign, all remaining funds are returned to the City.
Why spend money to fund candidates when the city has other pressing needs?
That is actually a pretty easy question to answer:
We've seen this year in Congress - and in countless other examples nationally and locally - that the rich and the powerful have access and influence in government that takes away from the people’s right to a representative democracy. Decisions are made that are in the best interest of those that write checks to politicians and not in the best interest of the communities the politicians serve.
Business groups like the Portland Business Alliance are happiest when they can buy politicians and they see public financing as a threat. It is a shame that they and their supporters – which include a long list of who’s who in Portland (make sure you read their finance report to see who is behind this) – care more about profit margins than open democracy.
Related Article: Portland's powerful pay to fight campaign financing
Related Link: Voter Owned Elections: More Choices And New Voices For Portland
Related Link: Stop the Power Grab, Portland
