The Voter-Owned Transparent Elections for Santa Monica (VOTE4SM) coalition has formed to pursue Clean Elections-style public financing of city races in Santa Monica, California after an expensive election cycle touched off concern over the growing influence of private money on elections and policy.  With representatives from Santa Monica neighborhood groups as well as the California Clean Money Campaign, California Common Cause, the Santa Monica Democratic Club, and the Southern California Americans for Democratic Action, the coalition will pursue a Clean Elections policy for the city in line with the programs in Maine, Arizona and other Clean Elections states. Moira Brennan of the California Clean Money Campaign, a Santa Monica resident, spoke in support of public financing legislation:  “We need to take money out of the equation. Our election system is too important to be left to the highest bidder. We want the best, not the best-funded.”  If they pass Clean Elections, Santa Monica will join Portland, Oregon and Albuquerque, New Mexico in offering a full public financing option to municipal candidates.