Here are some
key points you can adapt into a letter-to-editor or an email to your family,
friends, co-workers, etc. Most newspapers will not accept letters over 250 words.
• Under a special program in North Carolina, the Public Campaign Fund
gives judges an alternative source of funds – but the candidates must
earn the right to use the Fund by accepting strict fundraising and spending
limits.
• North Carolina is the first state in the nation to put in place such a program for the election of judicial candidates.
The Public Campaign Fund also pays for a Voter Guide with vital information about the judicial candidates, the courts, and voter registration.
• In 2006, 8 of 12 N.C. Supreme Court and Court of Appeals candidates (including 5 of the 6 winners) received help from the Public Campaign Fund. In 2004, when the program began, 12 of the 16 candidates (including 4 of the 5 winners) qualified to receive public funds.
• Four million Voter Guides were sent to households across N.C. and were paid for by the Public Campaign Fund.
• With public financing in place, N.C. bucked a national trend of nasty judicial election campaigns tainted by special interest money.
• Saying “Yes” for the Public Campaign Fund will not increase your tax or reduce your refund. It just tells the Department of Revenue to transfer $3 into the Fund to support fair courts and fair elections.
• Look
hard for the question about the Public Campaign Fund. If you use an accountant
or tax service, you may not even be asked about the Fund. Be sure that they
mark the question about the Fund “Yes.” Make the effort, make a
difference. Remember the Public Campaign Fund.
• Search hard and find the question about the Public Campaign Fund. Why?
Judges should be fair and impartial and never be beholden to special interests.
• But judges need funds from somewhere to run election campaigns. The
question is who provides the money? Special interests, those who want favor
with judges, or you and me, the public?