Use public funding for elections

By Dale Leuthold, Letter to the Editor

A recent letter suggested that a rich candidate spending her own money running for office is better than a candidate running with special-interest money. Neither situation is good for democracy because "grass-roots" candidates are shut out and unable to compete. There is another way to finance elections: public funding for candidates. Proposition 15 on the June ballot is a pilot program to try this system for the Secretary of State office.

Candidates qualify by collecting $5 contributions and signatures from registered voters and they receive the money needed for a campaign, including matching funds if they are outspent. It's time to try this system and have candidates who are accountable to the voters.

Dale Leuthold

Saratoga


See the article on San Jose Mercury News website



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