Environment Council of Rhode Island

...building an ecologically healthy future in a sustainable economy

In Support of Publicly Funded Elections

Pub Date: 
Wednesday, January 3, 2007

Whereas the members of the Environment Council of Rhode Island focus their concerns on environmental health and restoration, sustainability and related issues that are best served by good and open government; and

Whereas the cost of running successful political campaigns has grown geometrically over the last several decades and requires an inordinate amount of financing to raise sufficient funds for competitive races; and

Whereas traditional methods of campaign financing may depend heavily on contributions from a relatively small number of individuals, corporations, and others: and

Whereas public funding of elections has demonstrated the feasibility of bringing greater diversity to public office in Maine and Arizona; and

Whereas the results of 6 or more years of publicly funded elections in Maine and Arizona have shown an increase in racial, ethnic, gender and socio-economic diversity among both candidates and donors as compared to the traditional means of campaign financing; and

Whereas the members of the Environment Council of Rhode Island have reviewed the results of publicly funded elections in Maine and Arizona and consider this to be a potentially effective means of electing candidates to state office who share many of our membership’s concerns,

We therefore do hereby endorse the enaction of such legislation, as submitted to the State Legislature for the 2007 Legislative Session to support publicly funded elections in Rhode Island.

Motion to approve resolution as amended (and shown here in final form as amended) put forth by Sheila Dormody, seconded by Brad Hyson. Vote 13 yes, 0 no, 2 abstentions. Passes.