Portland’s new clean elections program is already showing its promise as a system that can fundamentally transform how fundraising and running for office works in Portland. By allowing candidates to run for office through grassroots support instead of big campaign donors, the program ensures that politicians are accountable to voters.

It has been heartening to hear clean elections candidates share how the program has allowed them to focus on reaching voters, not courting big donors. As a recent article noted, there is a school board candidate who was only able to run because of the funding from Clean Elections, and a majority of City Council candidates are using the program.

The first cycle of any new program is always an opportunity to learn how to improve its design and implementation, but minor issues shouldn’t overshadow the critical impact clean elections has on who is represented and able to run for office in Portland.

As campaign season heats up, I’m looking forward to hearing clean elections candidates continue to speak up about how the program allows them to best run and serve the voters of Portland and, when elected, propose ways to improve the clean elections program.

Making elected office accessible to people without the backing of big campaign donors will allow elected officials to represent the interests of the general public, not the special interests of a few donors. I hope this increased accessibility to elected office becomes a major story of this campaign season.

Scott Vonnegut
Portland