The price of power
Public campaign funds should be used in Chapel Hill
By: Editorial Board
Issue date: 11/30/07 Section: Opinion
How much would you spend to win a spot on the Chapel Hill Town Council? Seats are going for nearly $3,500 on average, so you'd better have deep pockets.
To ease this money-spending frenzy, Mayor Kevin Foy, who spent more than $3,500 winning his seat, and his finance reform committee are pushing for publicly financed local elections.
With public money available, more residents will have the opportunity to participate in town government.
In order to minimize the burden on the public and to ensure elections are fair regardless of funding source, those seeking public financing should be asked to exhibit need, and a cap should be instituted on overall spending.
The high-dollar elections for a 15.57 percent participation rate are not only exorbitant but exclusionary. Should the dollars race continue, some hopefuls might be priced out of running for local office.
The rising cost of campaigning in national elections has been an issue for years. And clearly local elections are not excluded from the out-fundraising game that candidates play.
This summer, the N.C. General Assembly passed legislation on public finance reform authorizing towns to publicly finance both in the 2009 and 2011 elections. Should Foy's plan be realized, Chapel Hill will become the first town in the state to implement finance reform.
North Carolina already provides public financing for state Supreme Court and Court of Appeals judges' campaigns. The next step is to offer public financing across the board, and Chapel Hill, in typical fashion, will be the trendsetter in this arena.
After all, $3,500 was just the average spent by the winners. While three winning council members - Sally Greene, Matt Czajkowski and Bill Strom - admittedly spent more than $4,000 on their campaigns, there was one shining example of moderation for them.
Jim Ward, who won his third town council election, spent a grand total of $434.49 on his campaign. And even more impressively, that money came entirely from his own pocket. He refused all contributions.
Ward proves that it's not just the money that wins an election. Being a qualified candidate counts for something, too.
But public financing could prove to very expensive, which is why setting a need-based standard might be necessary. That way, those who want to run can afford it no matter what, but it won't cost the town a fortune.
And for those throwing their Fendi hats into the ring with no worries about financial backing, a cap is necessary to slow unnecessary spending.
It doesn't make sense that a candidate would need to raise $8,895 for a local election as Strom did, especially not for less than 16 percent voter turnout.
With local elections, which don't take as much resources, public financing is a smart step.
With it, the people can elect the best candidates to office, not necessarily the ones who can pay for the fanciest signs.
To ease this money-spending frenzy, Mayor Kevin Foy, who spent more than $3,500 winning his seat, and his finance reform committee are pushing for publicly financed local elections.
With public money available, more residents will have the opportunity to participate in town government.
In order to minimize the burden on the public and to ensure elections are fair regardless of funding source, those seeking public financing should be asked to exhibit need, and a cap should be instituted on overall spending.
The high-dollar elections for a 15.57 percent participation rate are not only exorbitant but exclusionary. Should the dollars race continue, some hopefuls might be priced out of running for local office.
The rising cost of campaigning in national elections has been an issue for years. And clearly local elections are not excluded from the out-fundraising game that candidates play.
This summer, the N.C. General Assembly passed legislation on public finance reform authorizing towns to publicly finance both in the 2009 and 2011 elections. Should Foy's plan be realized, Chapel Hill will become the first town in the state to implement finance reform.
North Carolina already provides public financing for state Supreme Court and Court of Appeals judges' campaigns. The next step is to offer public financing across the board, and Chapel Hill, in typical fashion, will be the trendsetter in this arena.
After all, $3,500 was just the average spent by the winners. While three winning council members - Sally Greene, Matt Czajkowski and Bill Strom - admittedly spent more than $4,000 on their campaigns, there was one shining example of moderation for them.
Jim Ward, who won his third town council election, spent a grand total of $434.49 on his campaign. And even more impressively, that money came entirely from his own pocket. He refused all contributions.
Ward proves that it's not just the money that wins an election. Being a qualified candidate counts for something, too.
But public financing could prove to very expensive, which is why setting a need-based standard might be necessary. That way, those who want to run can afford it no matter what, but it won't cost the town a fortune.
And for those throwing their Fendi hats into the ring with no worries about financial backing, a cap is necessary to slow unnecessary spending.
It doesn't make sense that a candidate would need to raise $8,895 for a local election as Strom did, especially not for less than 16 percent voter turnout.
With local elections, which don't take as much resources, public financing is a smart step.
With it, the people can elect the best candidates to office, not necessarily the ones who can pay for the fanciest signs.
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