Examining Candidates, Issues and Financing
By Aaron D. Cervantes, Letter to the Editor
Richard Hasen's idea of providing public campaign financing
for city elections in the form of $25 vouchers for citizens
to give to candidates (Commentary, May 10) is an
interesting way to address L.A.'s campaign financing
crisis.
Unfortunately, it would reinforce the negatives of the
existing system. Without a mechanism for providing funds to
strong but little-known candidates so they can get their
message out, it would lock in the popularity contest aspect
of private fundraising. It would reward the best-known
candidates with the most dollars instead of leveling the
playing field.
Conversely, under a Clean Money full public financing
system, all candidates who qualify for public grants
receive equal amounts of funding to run their campaigns
after they've proven their viability by showing a broad
base of support, refusing private donations, and agreeing
to limit campaign spending.
Aaron D. Cervantes
Latino Outreach Manager
California Clean
Money Campaign
Los Angeles
See the article on Los Angeles Times website