Candidates for Governor in Arizona vying for Clean Elections funds must show broad community support by collecting 4,200 $5 donations. In 2006, former Democratic Gov. and current Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano had no problem collecting these donations-she gathered 7,200. More than a third came from constituents outside of her political party.

Then Gov. Napolitano, who was re-elected in 2006, used Arizona's Clean Elections system which allowed her to run for office without having to fund her campaign through well-heeled contributors or special interest donors. In her state, people can run for office with public funds if they can collect a set number of $5 contributions from local supporters. After qualifying, candidates must adhere to strict spending limits and forego all private fundraising. With Clean Elections, these candidates can focus on the voters-not the big money donors.

"I got to spend time with voters as opposed to dialing for dollars, or trying to sell tickets to $250-a-plate fundraisers," said Napolitano. "This was much better."[1]

Because she took no private money from special interests or powerful lobbyists, she was able to weigh the merits of policy with out worrying that she would upset big money donors. In 2003, on her first day in office, then Gov. Napolitano signed a prescription drug discount plan. She said that without Clean Elections, lobbyists would have held their campaign contributions over her head.

"None of that happened," she said, "because special interests had nothing to hold over me. I was lobbied heavily by all sides of this issue. But I was able to create this program based on one and only one variable: the best interests of Arizona's senior citizens."[2]

"I think what Clean Elections allows you to do is be a better candidate and a better office holder, because you're not all the time having to raise money," Napolitano told PBS's NOW correspondent David Brancaccio.[3]

Of course, Clean Elections isn't just about putting qualified candidates into office-it's also about making everyone feel like they're part of the political process. Clean Elections "empower[s] people at the grassroots level to participate. Because anybody can give $5 as opposed to $500 or $5,000...I think once you've given $5, you're an investor," Napolitano said in an interview.[4]

In 2005, Napolitano was named one of the top five governors by Time magazine. Also in 2005, she became vice chair of the National Governors Association, the first woman to do so in the organization's 97-year history[5]. She went on to become chair of the organization.

Napolitano was known for her ability to work across party lines to pass legislation that benefited all Arizona residents. As a former Attorney General and U.S. Attorney for Arizona, she was committed to serving the state's best interests. With Clean Elections, she didn't have to rely on campaign contributors to stay in office.

"I think we all share an ideal vision in which elected officials come to their capitols free of the encumbrances of special interests," Napolitano said. "They take their seats and conduct the business of the people just as we and the Founding Fathers envisioned, and just as we have the right to expect."[6]

On January 21, 2009, Janet Napolitano became the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security for the Obama administration.

[1] The Road to Clean Elections, documentary produced by Public Campaign, 2004.

[2] Speech by Gov. Janet Napolitano at the "Reclaiming Democracy" Conference, May 15, 2003.

[3] Votes for Sale?, PBS's NOW, October 20, 2006.

[4] Votes for Sale?, PBS's NOW, October 20, 2006.

[5] Time, America's Best Governors, November 13, 2005

[6] Speech by Gov. Janet Napolitano at the "Reclaiming Democracy" Conference, May 15, 2003.