Press Democrat endorsement of Measure R
Measure R reduces impact of big money
Friday, October 1, 2004In recent years, Sonoma County cities have learned that campaign reform measures don't guarantee that a candidate with $5 will have the same chance to win an election as the candidate with $5,000.
The things you can buy with money - mail, advertising, billboards, lawn signs, bumper stickers, balloons and buttons - will make a difference.
Still, cities are right to do what they can to level the playing field so that money alone doesn't determine the outcome of elections.
This is what the sponsors of Measure R have in mind.
The Petaluma ballot initiative would limit an individual contribution to a City Council candidate to $200 (instead of $500) and require the itemized reporting of any contribution larger than $25 (instead of $99).
Rather than concentrate on a handful of wealthy donors, the measure will force candidates to engage more people writing small checks. The proposal also would give voters a more complete snapshot of what groups and individuals are supporting the candidates.
This is an issue too often reduced to cartoon stereotypes: This business interest or that labor union supports candidate Y because he or she will toe the line.
In real life, it also happens that a group supports candidate Y because it thinks it won't get a fair hearing from candidate Z.
Sometimes, campaign reform measures give incumbents an unfair advantage.
Campaign reform measures don't guarantee that politicians - any more than other human beings - will attain moral perfection.
On balance, however, measures that minimize the impact of big money and maximize public disclosure make the system better - and more credible.
The Press Democrat recommends a yes vote on Measure R.
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