Walter Peterson, the former Republican governor of New Hampshire and Lou D'Allesandro, a Democratic state senator co-author this piece in the Concord Monitor in support of state House Bill 794 to create a full public financing option for elections for the offices of governor, state Senate and Executive Council: "Passing this voluntary public funding legislation here in New Hampshire would demonstrate our Legislature's commitment to strengthening the best qualities of government, fulfilling voters' desires for greater public accountability, fairness and openness in our political system."  Pointing to the full public financing programs offered by their neighbors, Maine and Connecticut, the two cite both high support among people in New Hampshire for a public financing option (74%) and an urgent need to address the rising cost of campaigning:  The cost of running for office is skyrocketing in New Hampshire. Indeed, our state legislative races in 2006 were the most expensive in New Hampshire history. According to data compiled by Concord-based Americans for Campaign Reform, the average cost of an Executive Council race has risen more than 100 percent in just two years: $80,000 in 2006, up from $39,656 in 2004.