Campaign Contributors Hedge Their Bets in 2004 Portland City Council Races


 

Publication Date: April 2005

Publisher: Democracy Reform Oregon

Author(s): Janice Thompson

Research Area: Politics

Type: News release

Coverage: Oregon

Abstract:

Contributors whose giving suggests more interest in buying access than supporting a candidate point to a broken system that could be fixed by a proposal City Council will consider today. "Double giving or contributions from the same donor to both candidates in a race are about hedging your bets and keeping whoever wins happy," says Janice Thompson, Executive Director of the Money in Politics Research Action Project (MiPRAP).

"I don't fault these contributors or the candidates, because they are stuck in a broken system of private financing for political campaigns. Donors, candidates, and - most important - Portland residents will benefit from the Voter Owned Elections proposal to be heard today by the City Council."