{"id":19833,"date":"2010-07-23T08:02:44","date_gmt":"2010-07-23T14:02:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nmpolitics.net\/index\/?p=19833"},"modified":"2010-07-23T17:53:34","modified_gmt":"2010-07-23T23:53:34","slug":"guv-candidates-talk-about-public-financing-of-elections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/2010\/07\/guv-candidates-talk-about-public-financing-of-elections\/","title":{"rendered":"Guv candidates talk about public financing of elections"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

Susana Martinez (left, courtesy photo) and Diane Denish (photo by Heath Haussamen)<\/p><\/div>\n

Republican gubernatorial candidate Susana Martinez<\/a> opposes public financing of elections, while Democratic opponent Diane Denish<\/a> wants to give campaign contribution limits a try before she considers expanding public financing.<\/p>\n

The current public financing system in New Mexico is voluntary and applies only to races for seats on the Public Regulation Commission, Supreme Court and Court of Appeals.<\/p>\n

Instead of public financing, Martinez wants to increase transparency and accountability by \u201cmoving toward real-time reporting\u201d and the conducting of random audits of campaign reports to ensure candidates are following the law.<\/p>\n

Ending the existing public financing system is not something the governor can do on her own. The Legislature would have to approve such a proposal.<\/p>\n

In addition to wanting to try out campaign contribution limits \u2013 which take effect after the current election cycle<\/a> \u2013 Denish also wants changes to the existing public financing system. She said she wants \u201cstricter audit requirements\u201d and \u201ca mechanism requiring candidates who are seeking public financing in these select offices to demonstrate a high level of grassroots support.\u201d<\/p>\n

The candidates\u2019 positions on public financing came in response to questions I asked about the subject. The questions:<\/p>\n