Money in Politics Research Action Project

Money in Politics Research Action Project
917 SW Oak St. #422, Portland, OR 97205 (503) 283-1922 Fax (503) 283-1877 miprap@oregonfollowthemoney.org

Voter-Owned Elections
More Choices & New Voices for Portland

Letters to the Editor
Key Points, Writing Tips and Contact Information

Key Points :

Voter-Owned Elections are fair and benefit Portland by opening access to City Hall, allowing for more choices and new voices.
Voter-Owned Elections won in Albuquerque, demonstrating that voters "get it." People understand the cost of our current campaign system in favors to big-money contributors.
Voter-Owned Election candidates limit campaign spending while having enough money to increase candidate competition.
No wonder big-money contributors have filed an initiative to repeal Voter-Owned Elections... they don't want to lose the power of their checkbooks to determine who runs for office and has access to Portland City Hall.
Voter-Owned Elections is a proven reform that is a cost-effective investment in Portland's future.
Sitting commissioners will face candidates with a real chance of getting their message to voters as public financing minimizes the unfair fundraising advantage incumbents currently enjoy.
Candidates have to show they have earned a spot on the ballot by collecting more than a thousand $5 contributions. The money doesn’t come for free.
Portland is part of a growing trend. Maine and Arizona has had Voter-Owned Elections since 2000. Legislators adopted public financing reform in Vermont for state level races, in New Mexico for Public Regulatory Commission candidates, in New Jersey for targeted legislative districts, and North Carolina for state judicial races.

Looking for additional background? Click here.
City Council statements in support of Voter-Owned Elections? Click here.

Tips for making your letter a success!

Tie your letter into items in your local paper.
Keep your letter short—no more than 150 words.
Give your full name and address, as well as a phone number or e-mail address so editors can confirm that you wrote it.
Personalize your letter with your experience, if you can.
Let us know if your letter is published—send us an e-mail at miprap@oregonfollowthemoney.org.

Newspaper Contact Information

City-wide Newspapers	Neighborhood Newspapers
Asian Reporter Letters to the editor 922 N Killingsworth St, Suite #1-A, Portland, OR 97217-2220 news@asianreporter.com Fax: (503) 283-4445	Hollywood Star Letters to the editor 2000 NE 42nd Ave. PMB 142, Portland, OR 97213 hstareditorial@aol.com Fax: (503) 282-9628
El Hispanic News Letters to the editor P.O Box 306, Portland, OR 97207-0306 info@elhispanicnews.com Fax: (503) 228-3384	Multnomah Village Post Letters to the editor don@multnomahpost.com
The Oregonian Letters to the editor 1320 S.W. Broadway, Portland, OR 97201 letters@news.oregonian.com Fax: (503) 294-4193	Northwest Examiner Letters to the editor allan@nwexaminer.com
Portland Mercury Letters to the editor 605 NE 21st Ave, Suite 200, Portland, OR 97232 mercuryeditorial@portlandmercury.com Fax: (503) 294-0844	St. Johns Sentinel Letters to the editor PO Box 3316, Portland, OR 97208 info@stjohnssentinel.com Fax: (503) 287-3880
Portland Tribune http://www.portlandtribune.com/contactus.shtml Fill in the fields and click the "editor" button to submit your letter.	Sellwood Bee Letters to the editor 1837 SE Harold St., Portland, OR 97202 ReadTheBee@myexcel.com Fax: (503) 232-9787
The Skanner Letters to the editor P.O. Box 5455, Portland, OR 97228 info@theskanner.com Fax: (503) 285 2900	Southwest Community Connection Letters to the editor 6605 SE Lake Rd, Portland, OR 97222 jkirk@commnewspapers.com Fax: (503) 546-0724
Willamette Week Letters to the editor 822 SW 10th Ave., Portland, OR 97205 mzusman@wweek.com Fax: (503) 243-1115	SE Examiner Letters to the editor PO Box 33663, Portland, OR 97292 examiner@inseportland.com Fax: (503) 254-7545