Now that it looks very likely that Washington Governor Christine Gregoire will sign the Local Choice/Local Option bill into law and allow municipalities to pursue public financing options for their elections, members of the Seattle City Council are weighing a proposal to create a Clean Elections public financing program to cover their elections.

This article in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer is on balance quite favorable towards Clean Elections, as are several members of Seattle's City Council:

"It provides a more level playing field among people who run for office, and, therefore, I think it assures that a wider array of candidates will run," said Councilman Nick Licata, who participated in Seattle's now-defunct public financing program when he made his first, unsuccessful council run in 1979
.

Today, a small collection of people wields heavy influence as major financiers of city campaigns, including individuals who routinely donate the maximum allowed, Licata said.

"It's like max-out club," he said. "I don't think that political candidates should be beholden to that club."

Seattle residents could be asked to vote on public financing for their city council elections as early as this fall. We'll keep ya' posted!