The bill that would create a pilot program for a Clean Elections public financing option for candidates for Secretary of State in California is moving ahead in the state Senate, after passing out of the Assembly and the Senate Appropriations Committee. It's got a good chance of passing, despite expected opposition from lobbyists.

The Senate will vote on this later this week or early next week so stay tuned. If it passes the Senate it still needs to get the OK from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger so if you live in California there will be plenty to do in terms of getting the word out to support this.

Remember, writing a letter to the editor of your local paper is always a great way to spread the word about Clean Elections. This letter in the Los Angeles Times comes from Craig Dunkerley:

State races need clean money

Re "Capitol awash in party politics," Aug. 8


The impending dance of lobbyists and legislators in Sacramento reminds me how humiliating and unseemly the election process is. And we wonder why more talented and public-spirited people don't run for office, or why voter turnout and faith in elected representatives continues to drop.


If we had public campaign financing like they do in Arizona, Maine and Connecticut, this torrid annual spectacle would fade away and we'd see government accountable to voters instead of to big donors. Our public officials could shed their uncomfortable and unwanted dependence on private money. Everybody would win except the lobbyists and special-interest groups.


Craig Dunkerley

San Jose