Political Reform that Works: Public Campaign Financing Blooms in Tucson

Publication Date: January 2003

Publisher: Center for Governmental Studies

Author(s): Paul S. Ryan

Research Area: Campaign Finance

Keywords: Public finance

Type: Report

Coverage: Arizona

Abstract:

Tucson's public campaign financing system, enacted in 1985, is a major success and can serve as a model for small- and medium-sized cites throughout the United States. Tucson's law is the oldest local government public financing law currently administered in the nation and demonstrates that, given sufficient time, public financing can become an integral part of a jurisdiction's political culture. This report explores the successes of Tucson's law and recommends reforms to enhance its effectiveness.