Washington, D.C. - With the official opening of qualifying periods in Arizona and Massachusetts on August 1, contenders are lining up to run ‘clean’ for statewide office in 2002. Eight gubernatorial candidates in Arizona, including four Democrats, three Republicans and an independent, have either announced their participation in Clean Elections, or are seriously exploring that option by voluntarily limiting their early contributions. In Massachusetts, four candidates, three Democrats and one Green, have also declared their intention to run ‘clean’ for governor. Another 14 candidates for other statewide offices have also indicated their interest in qualifying under their state’s full public financing systems. (More statewide candidates are expected from Maine and Vermont, though their filing periods don’t begin until late 2001 and early 2002, respectively.) In 2000, more than 150 candidates ran ‘clean’ for state legislative office in Arizona and Maine.

“Now that the 2002 cycle is beginning in Massachusetts and Arizona, we’re seeing a real flowering of democracy,” said Nick Nyhart, executive director of Public Campaign. “The emphasis for all these candidates coming forward is going to be voters, not dollars, which is democracy the way it oughta be.”

“One dirty little secret of American politics is that most politicians are as dismayed by the private money chase as is the average voter,” added Nyhart. “Given the option of a clean alternative that frees them from constantly dialing for dollars, and puts them on a level-playing field with their opponents, statewide candidates in Arizona and Massachusetts from across the political spectrum are showing that there’s a better way.”

Each state’s qualifying system and funding program is slightly different. In Arizona, a gubernatorial candidate must collect 4,000 qualifying contributions of $5 each in order to receive a grant of $409,950 for the primary and $614,930 for the general election campaign. Prior to that, while exploring their options, they are allowed to collect a maximum of $42,440 in “seed money” contributions of no more than $110 per individual (no PAC money is allowed). In Massachusetts, a candidate for governor is required to collect 6,000 contributions of no more than $100 each in order to receive a grant of up to $1,622,100 for the primary and $1,135,500 for the general election. They are also limited to spending no more than $1,944,100 for the primary and $1,300,100 for the general race, and they can receive no more than $37,800 in in-kind contributions from supporters. In both states, additional matching funds will be given if a candidate faces a high-spending opponent.

The participation of so many candidates in Massachusetts is especially notable since legislative wrangling is still holding up funding for the system, endorsed by the voters by a 2-1 margin in 1998. “Beginning on August 1, candidates in Massachusetts will reach out to voters of all economic backgrounds, seeking small contributions that will help them to qualify for Clean Elections funds,” said Marc Draisen, chair of Massachusetts Voters for Clean Elections. “Sadly, this new day in Massachusetts does not dawn in a cloudless sky. Obscuring the promise of this new law are the on-going budget deliberations between the House and Senate on the necessary funding for Clean Elections. Voters want the law they adopted to be fully funded and implemented without delay."

Shar Bozack, the executive director of the Arizona Clean Elections Institute, added, “Next year will be a very exciting one in Arizona. More candidates will be participating in the new Clean Elections system then I ever imagined. The citizens of Arizona will have many options when they go to vote. This is just the beginning.”

The following candidates in Massachusetts and Arizona have either filed a formal declaration of intent, or stated to the press that they are voluntarily limiting their fundraising in order to qualify for Clean Elections funding: