Public elections should be publicly financed
Gazette Letter to the EditorThursday, February 2, 2006
"Is it true that American politicians have to be rich to make it to Parliament, as it is so expensive?" asked my Australian friend.
Not necessarily. Maryland is likely to join the growing number of states that have adopted a voluntary system of public funding for legislative campaigns, either entirely (Arizona, Maine, Connecticut) or in part (New Mexico, Oregon, North Carolina, Vermont and New Jersey).
Public financing gives average citizens the ability to run for office based on the strength of their ideas, not on the size of their campaign accounts. Those who win are free to vote on the merits of any given piece of legislation, without finding it necessary to cater to special interests.
Cleaning up Annapolis may well start from Frederick. Our mayor just won the race despite being outspent by his opponent by 10 fold. This demonstrates a healthy attitude of the Frederick city voters that sets a good example for the next Frederick County election.
Commissioners John "Lennie" Thompson Jr. and Jan H. Gardner deserve strong public support in their push for enforcement of the campaign finance rules. Kai Hagen, the newly announced candidate for the Board of County Commissioners, should prove to be an important asset, as he has publicly stated his commitment to substantial lobbying reform in Frederick County.
Malgorzata Schmidt, Frederick
WHY I'M VOTING FOR KAI!
Patti Murphy
Myersville
Kai Hagen is the kind of hard working, principled and dedicated individual we need on the BOCC. Kai cares deeply about Frederick County, and has worked tirelessly to protect the quality of life we cherish here.
He's a genuine public servant, whether it's coaching youth sports leagues, volunteering at his children's school, assisting in the development of ThorpeWood and the Catoctin Land Trust, serving on the county's Citizens Zoning...