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

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