The Lawrence Township Council was supposed to introduce an ordinance tonight that would create a citizens committee that would explore publicly funded local elections in the Mercer County town. The committee would study the issue and make recommendations to the council, who would then decide whether to put a taxpayer-funded plan on the ballot.
It is a committee worth keeping an eye on, given the place that money plays in our electoral process.
As I wrote in an earlier column, campaign cash disparities in towns like Monroe and South Brunswick “amplif(ies) the major parties’ strength in both towns and mak(es) it easier for the major parties to attract donors and more difficult for the GOP — a double-whammy that perpetuates one-party politics.”
And the reliance on private donors distorts the lines of accountability, with money creating access and creating the impression — at the very least — that local politicians are on the take, leaving their decisions in question and diminishing our confidence in government.
Public financing — when combined with other reforms — can help break the link. Let’s see what Lawrence comes up with.
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Hank Kalet 