August 24, 2018 – Public campaign financing was in the news this week, as both Santa Fe and Albuquerque looked at different ways of augmenting publically funded campaigns. The City of Santa Fe is looking at a proposal that would allow publicly funded candidates to receive small donations that would then be doubled by the city’s campaign finance fund. And in Albuquerque, the Democracy Dollars initiative would allow registered voters in the city $25 in coupons to contribute to a publicly funded candidate of their choice. Bernalillo County Commissioners voted down the proposal to add it to the November general election ballot, but enough residents signed the petition to hold a special election.

Gene Grant this week leads the Line opinion panelists in a debate the merits and drawbacks of public campaign financing and these proposed new initiatives.

Line Panelists:

Jeffrey Candelaria, Konnection Now & host on KKOB

Adrian Carver, executive director, Equality New Mexico

Dan Foley, former House minority whip

Sophie Martin, attorney