“Yet this is landmark legislation, and not merely because Connecticut is the first state to enact such sweeping reforms through legislative action rather than by referendum, as was the case in Maine and Arizona. Equally important is the opportunity this bill lays before citizens who may have thought about public service but lacked the money to run for office or disliked the process of raising it for a campaign. I believe this legislation will encourage new voices in our political process, introducing fresh ideas and novel approaches.”

- Governor M. Jodi Rell (R), CT, in an op-ed, Hartford Courant, December 8, 2005, upon signing legislation.

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

- Governor Janet Napolitano (D), AZ, The Road To Clean Elections Video

"I owe more allegiance to my consituents, all the constituents really, and I don't really give big business or corporations that much consideration"

- Representative Jim Annis (R), ME, The Road to Clean Elections Video

"When I'm walking the halls of the legislature and I see lobbyists from major corporations or even small organizations, I know that I get to make decisions that think about all the people in my constituencies, all the people in my district and not just specific interest groups.

- Senate President Beth Edmonds (D), ME, The Road to Clean Elections Video

"The biggest benefit to the voters in my district is it takes the special interest out of politics. It allows the people of my district to have a voice in what goes on here at the capital."

- Representative Steve Gallardo (D), AZ, The Road to Clean Elections Video

"When you think about Clean Elections, the first word that comes to mind if fairness, because it brings about inclusiveness, it also brings about a good amount of competitiveness, and it opens it up in diversity as well."

- Representative Leah Landrum Taylor (D), AZ, The Road To Clean Elections Video

"You have an opportunity to spend time with voters, listening to their concerns, discussing issues and not have to constantly be raising money up and through the time and after an election."

- Corporation Commissioner William Mundell (R), AZ, The Road to Clean Elections Video

"Why did I run as a Clean Elections candidate? Well, the truth is, I wasn't a political insider and I really had no interest in having to go out and spend my time fundraising. I wanted to be able to talk about the issues door-to-door with my constituents and Clean Elections gave me the opportunity to do that."

- Representative Chris Rector (R), ME, The Road to Clean Elections Video.

"Being a Clean Elections elected official now, there's a lot of freedom that comes with that. I really can focus on what my constituents need and not worry about upsetting anybody and it's going to cost me in the next election. I can really focus on what I think good policy is.

- Representative Nancy Smith, (D), ME, The Road to Clean Elections Video