The Portland Mercury rolls out its list of endorsements for various offices up for election and whatever you may think of their choices it's good to see several mentions of Portland's Voter-Owned Elections public financing program an its role in encouraging a greater diversity of candidates to participate in municipal elections.

Public Campaign's President Nick Nyhart was on Oregon Public Radio today to talk about Clean Elections, and Portland's ground-breaking municipal public financing system.  Take a listen here.

Portland's Voter-Owned Elections public financing program for their mayoral and city council races is set to have a good year with a record seven candidates qualifying for public funding and agreeing to spending limits.

In his years of work tracking money in politics, working to win full public financing of campaigns in states around the country and in his hometown of Portland, Oregonian Jeff Malachowsky has aimed to replace the politics of big money and small turnout with small donors and robust civic participation. In the essay that follows, Jeff reflects on Portland's Voter Owned public financing program and the benefits he sees it bringing to his city.

Five City Council candidates in Portland, Oregon have already qualified for public financing to run their primary campaigns under the city's Voter-Owned Elections program passed in 2005.  The candidates are running to fill the seats being vacated by Commissioners Sam Adams and Eric Sten.  Portland, along with Albuquerque, New Mexico, have the country's first full public financing program for municipal races.

Portland, Oregon's Voter-Owned Elections public financing program just got a prominent new participant. Sho Dozono, a Portland businessman, has opted in to the system for the Portland mayoral race, where he will face his principle challenge from City Commissioner Sam Adams. Portland passed Voter-Owned Elections in 2005.