Late last month, Maine Citizens for Clean Elections Board President, Alison Smith, was honored by YES Magazine as one of their "Breakthrough 15" for 2011. Smith has been a longtime ally of Public Campaign, and key advocate for the state's Clean Elections Program.

From the YES Magazine announcment: "We will need people like Alison Smith, who was a stay-at-home mom when she began volunteering and eventually became a leader in a campaign that revolutionized election financing in Maine, providing public money to turn middle- and working-class people into competitive candidates for office."

The landmark Maine Clean Elections program has been a huge success since voters passed it into law in 1996. First implemented in the 2000 election cycle, the program has become a staple of the political culture in the state, with more and more people from all walks of life using the system. The law remains hugely popular with voters, and is used by overwhelming majorites of both major parties. 

Due to recent court decisions, the system has come under attack in recent years. Public Campaign continues to work closely with Smith and on-the-ground activists to ensure that the popular law remains on the books. With advocates like Smith helpng lead the way, we're confident that we can keep elections in Maine about voters, not big money donors.

Public Campaign profiled Smith in 2010. Check it out here.