OLYMPIA — Gov. Chris Gregoire on Monday signed Democratic-sponsored legislation to allow voter-approved public financing of some local races.
The measure, approved during the recent legislative session with only Democratic votes, removes a 16-year-old ban on use of tax money to help finance campaigns for local office.
“The governor supports this bill because it allows for a voter-approved local public financing system allowing people who can’t afford to run for office the opportunity to do just that,” spokesman Pearse Edwards said.
The ban was part of Initiative 134, which regulates political contributions and expenditures for state offices and some local races. The new law doesn’t lift the prohibition for state or legislative campaigns but does allow local governments to authorize partial public financing of local campaigns. It would not apply to school board races.
Only local sources could be tapped, and voters would have to approve such a use of public money.
The federal government provides voluntary partial matching money for presidential campaigns, and some states and locales have public financing. Before the I-134 ban, some Washington local governments, including Seattle and King County, had public financing.
The King County Council supports the new law and Seattle City Council member Sally Clark hopes to submit a plan to city voters this fall. If voters approve, a financing program could be implemented next year when the mayor and four council members are on the ballot.
At the state level, some lawmakers have talked about easing into public financing, starting with state judicial races, but that has not passed.
During legislative debate on the local government plan, supporters said public financing could help balance the influence of special interests in local campaigns and encourage more people to run for office.
“By making sure that the common people can support and have a fair election, races will not be decided by the person with the biggest checkbook,” said Rep. Mark Miloscia, D-Federal Way. “Checkbook democracy is the wrong kind of democracy.”
Opponents said candidates should rely on grass-roots fundraising, not taxpayers. They argued that the ability to get donor support is an important test of a candidate’s energy, viability and fitness for office.
Others argued that it was wrong to make taxpayers financially support candidates they might strenuously oppose philosophically.
“People are free to give, and they’re free not to give,” said Rep. Joyce McDonald, R-Puyallup. “We ought to leave it that way.”
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