I hope Portland voters think past the feel-good vibes of the Charter Commission recommendations. Take Question 3, for example, a Clean Elections fund for local races sounds good until you consider that somebody – the Portland taxpayer – has to pay for all the politicking that politics entail.

There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch, or a free campaign sign. Does the city of Portland have so much cash lying around that it can afford to pay not only for opposing political campaigns, but also for the bureaucracy to disburse the funds and oversee the elections?

Giving city government more control over city elections will stifle, not enhance, democracy and free expression. Taxpayers should not be forced to fund the campaigns of candidates whose principles they find objectionable. Please reject this welfare scheme for politicians by voting “no” on Question 3.

Davis Hartwell
Portland