|
IN THE NEWS:
July 26, 2005 News
Release
 San
Diego Comes Together
to Call for a ”Clean“ Government
San
Diego, CA: California Common Cause, Neighborhoods for Campaign
Finance Reform, and San Diego Alliance for Clean Elections unveiled
the "Declaration
of Independence from Private Money" Pledge at a press
conference today at noon outside of the office of the County Register
Voters at 5201 Ruffin Road. The Clean Elections Pledge is the
first step towards a ballot measure that will enable candidates
who meet a threshold of gathering small donations to run a campaign
on public funding instead of raising private, special interest
money.
Stated
former San Diego City Councilman John Hartley, Chair of
Neighborhoods for Campaign Finance Reform, "I know what it’s
like to have to dial for dollars when I’d rather be devoting
all my time serving my constituents. Candidates today have to
raise between $300,000 to a million and they become beholden to
big money donors. If San Diegans don’t act now, our government
will collapse under the weight of special interests."
The
proposed ballot measure will enable candidates to run for city
office without having to raise prodigious amounts of money from
private and special interests. Local groups will collaborate on
a major petition and public awareness campaign.
During
Common Cause’s Defending Democracy Mayoral Forum, held on
July 13th, the top candidates about their support for
clean election systems. Both candidates Donna Frye & Jerry
Sanders expressed support to an audience of 450.
"The
need for Clean Elections has never been more apparent in San Diego,"
stated Alberto "Tito" Zevallos, Co-Chair of the
San Diego Alliance for Clean Elections. "Mayor Murphy has
resigned because of closed door deals with special interest groups.
Two City Councilpersons, Inzunza and Zucchet, have been convicted
of federal charges related to campaign contributions from strip
club owners and resigned. Federal authorities are investigating
Rep. Cunningham for alleged acts of corruption involving a government
contractor."
"The
record shows that public financing systems work — whether
it’s Maine, Arizona, New York City or LA. candidates who
are freed from the tyranny of spending 50 and 60 hours a week
fundraising can spend their time talking to voters, serving their
constituents and advancing the policies they care about."
stated Kathay Feng, Executive Director of California Common
Cause. "Our Democracy depends on putting voters back in the
driver’s seat."
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Amy Temple, California Common Cause • (213) 252-4552
Left
to right: Alberto "Tito" Zevallos of the San Diego
Alliance for Clean Elections, John Hartley of Neighborhoods
for Campaign Finance Reform and Amy Temple of California Common
Cause address the media as supporters of Clean Elections look
on. At left is a graphic showing the shocking amount of money
raised by candidates for the San Diego mayoral special election
— 2.6 million dollars reported as of July 9, 2005; at
right is the "Declaration of Independence from Private
Money," which was unveiled at the event. |
 Supporters
of Clean Elections line up to add their signature to the "San
Diego Declaration of Independence from Private Money."
Several supporters pledged to volunteer their time and effort
to put a Clean Elections measure on the November 2006 ballot
as the media recorded the event. Several television and print
news outlets covered the event, resulting in an increase in
public awareness about campaign finance problems and how Clean
Elections represent real reform for a system that is continually
failing to live up to the expectation of voters. |
|
