11/30/2007: "League To Address Campaign Finance Reform"

Should Washington join seven other U.S. states that have turned to public financing for state offices? That is the question the League of Women Voters of the San Juans will be considering at two events in December.

A public gathering will be held on Sunday, December 2nd from 3 to 5 at the Grange Hall in Friday Harbor, and the annual LWV Holiday Luncheon will also feature the issue on Monday, December 3rd. The Luncheon will be on Orcas Island from 12:30 to 2:30 at the Orcas Hotel on Orcas Island.

The San Juan Island program is free and the public is invited. There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion. Snacks will be served. The Orcas program is the LWV monthly meeting, but guests are very welcome and encouraged to come. Lunch is $15. Contact 370-5743 for more information.

“This may be an issue whose time has come,” said Janna Gingras, Co-President, League of Women Voters of the San Juans. “People from both the national and state League of Women Voters are working on the issue of Campaign Finance Reform, and there has recently been a lot of local interest.” Gingras goes on to say, “ It is a truly non-partisan issue, with a lot of support from Democrats and Republicans as well as Greens and Independents.”

Ken Dammand, Board member of Washington Public Campaigns, will be at both meetings to speak. At the San Juan event a brief film on the topic will be shown. Dammand, a college teacher and fireman in Everett, travels the state encouraging interest in a solution to a problem that he and others believe is out of control, “Business as usual, as conducted by both of the major political parties, is a path to disaster for our country and the world,” he says.