Publicly financed races for city offices can work
Regarding your editorial arguing that "public financing for Greensboro City Council campaigns isn't needed" (April 2), I must have missed the memo on that one. North Carolina Common Cause reports that nine sitting members of the N.C. Court of Appeals and N.C. Supreme Court have won elections as publicly financed candidates, including men, women, African Americans, whites, Democrats and Republicans. If it works at the state level, why not for our city?
A candidate would have to collect a set number of small donations determined by the city -- say $5 to $50 from 200 people in their district -- to establish support for their candidacy. (That might raise our 20 percent voter turnout right there!) She or he would then qualify for a predetermined amount from the city to spend on a campaign. No one has to take it.
I agree those who have more time than money still have ways to run a campaign. But if we never receive mailings outlining their positions and experience, read about them in newspaper ads or see any yard signs, they come across as less substantial candidates than the ones whose names we see all the time. This is where money matters.
Ellen Weiner
Greensboro