The News and Observer published an interesting editorial today voicing support for the Raleigh City Council’s decision to approve of a bill in the General Assembly that would give cities the option of using taxpayer money to fund local campaigns.
A public financing program had its first run in Chapel Hill in November. The editorial says that two Chapel Hill candidates successfully used the public campaign financing last year—success meaning that both candidates won their elections.
The News and Observer argues that newcomers to elections have the most to gain by using public financing, although in Chapel Hill both candidates who used it had run before.
The N&O also tries to argue that taxpayer financed campaigns would ensure that “big-money interests” would not influence local campaigns in the same paragraph that they applaud Raleigh’s city government for being “well-connected to the people’s concerns.” So, then, according to their logic, is public financing even necessary in Raleigh?
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