Feb. 24, 2007
Seattle Times Letter to the Editor

Clean Elections

Bruce Ramsey overlooks the beauty of locally controlled, clean elections in his quick survey of the judicial campaign recommendations from the governor captured in my Senate Bill 5226 (“Court campaign-fund debate is a fight for political power”, Feb. 21).

Campaigns are not free. Businesses and outside groups have learned that spending money on elections is a great investment. That’s why they regularly pay to influence elections – often across state lines, where they cannot even legally vote.

But if a community funds its own elections, that community is more likely to enjoy many of the benefits now being purchased by outside entities.

Candidates who file “clean” would no longer rely on funding from these outside interests. Funded publicly, such candidates would instead use their time seeking support from legitimate voters instead of donors from elsewhere who are buying influence at the expense of a community’s best interest.

Rather than entrenching incumbents, my bill would actually lessen the “incumbent advantage” derived from easier fundraising. Newcomers who file clean would receive public funds (up to a point) to erase much of the incumbent’s financial advantage. When every candidate gets roughly the same access, the best campaign platforms will carry the day – not the most aggressive and expensive advertising effort.

Sen. Eric Oemig
45th Legislative District

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