St. Johns Sentinel

October 2005

NEWS BLURBS

(Compiled from Press Releases by Lua Masumi and Colleen McDonald)

Ballot Titles Must be Complete, Clear and Helpful to Voter

The League of Women Voters of Portland (LWVP) joined the challenge to the ballot title of an initiative to repeal Portland’s recently enacted comprehensive campaign finance reforms.  In May 2005, the Portland City Council enacted a campaign finance reform law that authorizes limited public financing of campaigns for qualified mayor, city commissioner and city auditor candidates.

The city attorney and LWVP are in agreement of (sic) the ballot title proposed in the legal challenge.  “Our common goal is to have a ballot title that clearly explains how Portland’s campaign finance reform laws work and what would happen if they were repealed,” summarized Cushman.  “Voters need to understand that the repeal would return Portland to campaigns without contribution or spending limits.”