10,000 Maniacs: Oregonians Exercising Democracy Through "Voter-Owned Elections"

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/03/07/7531/

Voter Owned Elections is providing a healthy alternative to politics as usual in Portland. Months before a traditionally low-turnout election - a municipal primary, for goodness sakes! - more than 10,000 citizens are already involved giving seven relative newcomers to politics a chance to present themselves to voters. And for those voters, the rest of the campaign will be about what campaigns are supposed to be about - issues, positions, problems, solutions, and conversations between hopeful public servants and the people they seek to represent.

"All the people, that is; have-nots as well as haves; denim pockets as well as deep pockets. Because in Voter Owned Elections, when you ‘max out’ as a donor with a simple $5 contribution, you get more for your money, not less. You get choices. You get hope. You get fairness. You may just get the democracy you deserve."

-peace-