The Citizens’ Election Program

On Tuesday this week, the nation’s political attention shifted quickly from the conclusion of the party primary season to the general election in November, and that is where it is likely to stay as voters weigh exactly how much and what kind of change they want to see in our national leadership. If we lower our gaze a bit, however, we may see the kind of change in “politics as usual” right here in Connecticut that people seem to be yearning for everywhere. Connecticut’s newly enacted Citizens’ Election Program promises to eliminate special interest money from most state legislative races this year.

Those candidates who can show a modest base of campaign funding, consisting of small donations from individual donors who are not a lobbyist, a close relative of a lobbyist, or a contractor, will be eligible for general election grants of $25,000 for assembly seats and $85,000 for state senate seats. The level of competition in any given race can raise or lower those grants accordingly, under the new system.

Election reform advocates have heralded the Citizens’ Election Program as revolutionary, limiting the influence of organized labor, business associations, and the political establishment over election results. Two years ago, lobbyists pumped $1.6 million into state legislative campaigns, accounting for most of the $2 million that flowed into these races through political action committees and Democratic and Republican leaders. This year they are going to have to make way for a new set of powerbrokers: ordinary voters.

While the new financing program is voluntary, 70 percent of state legislative candidates are expected to participate this year, according to state elections officials. If in the end reality reflects these expectations, the political center of gravity in Connecticut will shift from traditional power centers in Hartford to local constituencies.

One expected benefit of the Citizens’ Election Program is greater competition in local races. That appears to be the case in Newtown this year, where the long, popular, and largely unopposed tenure of Republican Julia Wasserman has come to an end. Two candidates — Republican Will Rodgers and Democrat Chris Lyddy — are mounting campaigns to replace her. Both men intend to take advantage of the new system of financing their campaigns. Statewide, however, it appears that the number of incumbents running unopposed this year will actually increase. In 2006, voters had no choice in 43 legislative races; this year 58 state lawmakers will go unopposed. Perhaps in another two years that trend will reverse when potential candidates around the state fully understand that they do not have to go to hat in hand to Hartford anymore for money with strings attached.

We hope that Connecticut’s electorate is not so distracted by the high-profile race for President this year that it overlooks the new opportunities for citizens to exert greater influence over government right at home in their own state assembly and senate districts. The Citizens’ Election Program has given us all a chance to have better choices on the ballot and, consequently, to make better choices when we vote.