Publicly financed elections

I've gotten several questions lately on publicly financed local elections.

There appears to be an organized push to expand the public financing of candidates running for offices beyond the judicial races. I think that would be a great thing. Since the candidates would have to have a certain number(to be decided) of small donations, it would actually make it easier to ask people to support you. Most folks don't think that their $10 is worth much. But if it will help their candidate qualify for public funds, that makes every donation worth more. It also makes the person who can spare $10 as important as the person that can spare $100. That is a very nice thought.