On Tuesday, February 7th the campaign for public financing of the San Francisco mayor's race reached victory!!!! The legislation was passed by the Board of Supervisors 9 to 2.

As a representative from the Mexican American Political Association said, "public financing allows lower income and minority community members real access to the most politically powerful position in the city." Passage of this legislation is one solid step toward ensuring that candidates are no longer beholden to the special interests that have previously funded mayoral campaigns, but will be accountable to SF citizens.

Thanks to our coalition partners at the League of Pissed off Voters, the New American Foundation and SPUR. Also, thanks to Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi for sponsoring the legislation and to the following Supervisors for voting in favor: Tom Ammiano, Chris Daly, Gerardo Sandoval, Jake McGoldrick, Aaron Peskin, Fiona Ma, Sophie Maxwell and Bevan Dufty!

Supervisors Michaela Alioto-Pier and Sean Elsbernd voted against the legislation.

Read a Summaryof how public financing will work in SF

See a list of Campaign Supporters, including 8 SF Board of Supervisors and over 60 local organizatons.

Why we Need Public Financing for the San Francisco Mayor's Race

The concept of Public Finance for elections is that the public helps fund the campaigns of candidates who can demonstrate a wide base of public support by collecting a large number of small donations. In exchange, candidates agree to limit their private fundraising. Voter Owned Elections (also known as 'public financing of campaigns') is a good government reform that helps ensure that candidates are accountable to the public, rather than private interests, and creates a situation where all serious candidates have enough resources to get their message into the hands of voters.

San Francisco has been a leader in election reform. From the nationally-recognized ranked choice voting system, to the successful Voter Owned Elections system for Board of Supervisors elections, to ethics reform and Elections Commission oversight, San Francisco has taken the lead on improving our democracy. But it's time to take the next step -- expanding Voter Owned Elections to the Mayor's race.

In the last two mayoral elections in San Francisco, one candidate outspent challengers by anywhere from 4-to-1 to 10-to-1. In addition, independent expenditures ran rampant, hiding behind shadowy organizations. It's time to level the playing field.

The influence of big money in elections has an inordinate amount of influence on politicians through campaign donations, which in turn leads to a manipulation of public policy -- often against the interests of the public.

Public financing of the mayor's race will ensure that the candidates elected are responsive primarily to the needs of the public rather than private interests. Public financing of campaigns is good public policy.

Public financing has been a success not only in San Francisco's Board of Supervisors races, but also in Los Angeles' mayoral and city council races, New York City's mayoral and city council races, and Arizona and Maine's state elections, including elections for governor.