North Carolina's Independent Weekly covers the full public financing pilot program that applies to three Council of State races this year, and talks to candidates about how their run with public funding will diverge from the traditional campaign model.

It looks as though participation in North Carolina's pilot program for public financing of three Council of State races will be high. Six of the 11 candidates for the offices of auditor, insurance commissioner and superintendent of public instruction have indicated they would opt in, and another four are still mulling whether to participate.

Wayne Goodwin writes in the Carrboro Citizen in support of North Carolina's efforts to create a full public financing pilot program for three of their Council of State offices, freeing these officials from the money chase and from taking large sums of money from interests with whom their office may deal directly. As a former legislator and current commissioner he knows the reality of campaigning and writes about the conflicts it produces.