A political fact of life is that people who give money to candidates, have greater access to those candidates. When those candidates turn into legislators or council members – they’ll be obligated to those who helped them which at minimum means an open door and a direct line of communication.

The good news is the State of Maine and a handful of others have come up with a better way.

I’ve never thought much about Maine. I just know it’s a small state located somewhere on the Canadian border – and it’s cold.

However, a friend who now lives there sent me a report that warmed me right up. You might say it lit a fire.

“The Maine Clean Elections program remains strong, with most candidates for the Maine legislature choosing to run Clean in 2024. We are also proud that in the second year of Portland’s new Clean Elections program, all 12 candidates for city council ran Clean.” Maine Citizens for Clean Elections

Wow. Just wow.

Clean Publicly Funded Elections: Wouldn’t that be a nice present for Hawai’i to unwrap at the end of the upcoming 2025 legislative session?

“The Maine Clean Election Act (MCEA) established a voluntary program of full public financing of political campaigns for candidates running for Governor, State Senator, and State Representative…To become eligible, candidates must demonstrate community support through collecting a minimum number of checks or money orders of $5 more made payable to the Maine Clean Election Fund. After a candidate begins to receive MCEA funds from the State, he or she cannot accept private contributions, and almost all goods and services received must be paid for with MCEA funds.” maine.gov

In addition to Maine – Arizona, Connecticut and New Mexico also have comprehensive publicly funded clean election laws firmly in place.

For those worried about giving away taxpayer money to the criminal, the unglued, and the out to lunch – experience in these 4 states show that risk is small as the “compliance requirements” (translation – rules you must follow and paperwork you must fill out) are significant.

In the coming 2025 Hawai’i legislative session, there will no doubt be Clean Election initiatives proposed that mirror the successful programs already in place elsewhere.

We must work hard in the coming months to ensure passage of a strong Clean Elections initiative here in Hawai’i.

“How am I possibly going to raise $20,000 – $30,000, to run a campaign?” is the question preventing many a good person from taking up the call to run for election to public office.

I know from personal experience even the skimpiest of campaign budgets require yard signs, banners, web/internet and print media promotion, brochures to hand out, and at least one mailer, preferably two or more.

In order to win, voters need to know who you are and what you stand for. To win you must also “look like a real candidate” and real candidates have campaign signs and banners, and do at least some advertising.

In Hawai’i (but not Maine, Arizona, Connecticut, and New Mexico) this means a candidate must solicit money from private interests to back their campaign.

There’s a “hierarchy of political access” and large donors do not wait in line.

When policy-makers are ultimately faced with voting on issues directly impacting their donors, they’ll always consider the needs of those donors and do whatever possible to accommodate them.

It’s just the way the world works. It doesn’t mean that every policy-maker will lie, cheat, steal, or cause harm to the general public interest for their donors – but of course some do.

And all are pulled, nudged, encouraged, and sometimes bullied, to go down that path.

Passing “Clean Elections” legislation would be a huge and positive step away from the pay-to-play culture that permeates Hawai’i politics today.

Mahalo and Merry Christmas to our friends in Maine leading the way.

Gary Hooser
8 years on the Kaua`i County Council
8 years in the Hawai’i State Senate – 4 as Majority Leader
now…just continuing to do what I can to make our world a better place

above first publishing in The Garden Island Newspaper 12/25/24