Sen. Dan Foster (D-Kanawha County) was a practicing surgeon for 23 years before joining Charleston Area Medical Center working on patient quality issues. And while running for office was never something he had thought seriously about, soon, “people came to me and encouraged me to run for the House of Delegates,” he said.

Candidates for Governor in Arizona vying for Clean Elections funds must show broad community support by collecting 4,200 $5 donations. In 2006, Gov. Janet Napolitano (D-AZ) had no problem collecting these donations—she received 7,200. More than a third came from constituents outside of her political party.

Rep. Kyrsten Sinema likes to stay busy. Aside from being a member of the Arizona House of Representatives, she’s a college professor and a lawyer. After graduating from college at the age of 18, she began a career in social work as a way to help those in need.

This is the second in a series of profiles of Clean Elections candidates and lawmakers around the country. Today's profile is on Maine Rep. Deborah Simpson (D-Auburn), who was a waitress when she first won under Clean Elections in 2000.

This is the first in a series of profiles of Clean Elections candidates and lawmakers around the country. Clean Elections has made it possible for qualified people who do not have connections to special interest money to run competitive campaigns. Maine Rep. Chris Rector (R-Thomaston), a small business owner, is one of these lawmakers.