Portland City Council has locked itself in a corner. And instead of directly confronting their role in determining whether or not a citizen-requested referendum on public funding for municipal elections is ultimately put on the ballot after two years, they attempt to distract attention by focusing on whether a particular adviser should be allowed to deliberate on the matter.

I watched the previous council meeting when they initially voted not to put the fair elections referendum on the ballot. It was very difficult for me to discern the basis on which they failed to do so. I left the meeting thinking, “Someone really doesn’t like this idea.” They didn’t spend a lot of time or effort articulating the basis on which they voted.

I do not know how the members of this council who are opposed to sending the file to the voters will be able to articulate their reasoning or the reasoning of the previous council, since there are few bases on which to oppose.

A system of public financing of municipal elections can only broaden the scope of the talents of potential elected officials. This is a good thing . Let the voters decide.

Susie Crimmins
Portland