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Commissioner Amanda Fritz wants to resurrect public campaign finance in Portland.

(Benjamin Brink/Staff)

Portland taxpayers may once again cover campaign costs for political hopefuls if incumbent Commissioner Amanda Fritz has her way.

Fritz wants to dangle the promise of public money to candidates who agree to limit campaign contributions and spending.

The program -- dubbed Open and Accountable Elections -- would provide a sizable public match for private contributions and could cost taxpayers up to $2 million overall in a busy election cycle.

Fritz said she hopes a new public campaign finance system will better connect candidates and voters while reducing the impact of major donors.

"There's going to be a lot more people throwing house parties and inviting you to come and listen to the candidates," said Fritz, who won election in 2008 using the city's previous campaign finance system.

Fritz expressed optimism Wednesday that she'll secure City Council support for the program this year -- without referring it to voters for approval. Portland's old public campaign finance program was short-lived, with voters narrowly killing it off in 2010.

Unlike the past system, which provided qualifying candidates with a set sum of up to $350,000 for city commission races or $450,000 for mayoral races, Fritz's new proposal would give a bigger boost to candidates who prove successful at raising private money.

As envisioned, the city would match the first $50 of a private contribution with six times as much, or $300. That means one $50 contribution would net a candidate $350.

But to qualify, candidates also would be required to limit individual contributions to $250. (Under that scenario, the first $50 would still receive a $300 public match, meaning a $250 contribution would net $550).

Qualifying candidates would also be required to cap overall campaign spending at $550,000 for a commission race ($250,000 in the primary and $300,000 in the general election) or $950,000 in a mayoral contest ($380,000 in the primary and $570,000 in the general election).

Not everyone would qualify, either.

As a basic requirement, commission candidates would first need to raise at least $2,500 from 250 individuals, while mayoral hopefuls would need to secure at least $5,000 from 500 people.

"The aim is to make sure that candidates who qualify for public money do have significant support," Fritz said.

Scandal helped undo Portland's last iteration of the program. Campaigns from 2006 were marred by a signature-forging conviction and questionable expenditures. Amid the recession, voters ended the program by a margin of 1,600 votes out of more than 210,000 cast.

Fritz said there would be strict rules against nepotism and wining and dining. Qualifying candidates would also need to update campaign finance disclosures weekly.

"I think we've learned a lot," said Fritz, adding that the new proposal is modeled after a program in New York City.

Fritz will hold a public forum Thursday to review her proposal. It's at the Matt Dishman Community Center, 77 N.E. Knott St., from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Fritz said she plans to bring her proposal to the City Council later this year, although she's not sure if it'll happen before the Nov. 8 general election, when Commissioner Steve Novick is up for re-election.

Time may be of the essence. Fritz counts Mayor Charlie Hales, who leaves office at year's end, as "strongly supportive."

-- Brad Schmidt

503-294-7628

@cityhallwatch