John Jackson for House District 44

   I would to sell you on a candidate -- myself -- who likes to think he is not for sale.
   This time, elect someone who doesn't accept money from special interests, be that from corporations or from civic-cause concerns such as education, for if it is wrong for influence to come from anyone, then that includes it being wrong for it to come from even good causes. A couple years ago, when I asked one state candidate about taking contributions, she shot back that, no, she wouldn't take money from anyone who doesn't serve the public interest. Somehow that has an ironic spin to it. Do we say the bad guys shouldn't be allowed to practice the crime, but the good guys should? Wrong is wrong, even in small matters, and if you consider this a small matter, it still is one we should not like.
   We set finance disclosure rules because we see the danger of special-interest influencing. It's like we know our system is wrong, yet instead of changing it, we simply make sure it is transparent.
   If wrong is wrong, change it. Don't simply monitor the wrong, get rid of it.
   Some would argue in favor of allowing contributions from individuals, but can't we be just as beholden to an individual as to a lobbyist? Why set up a system that shields off one person's influence, but allows another's?
   No one doubts the reason many give money to politicians is they want them to remember them when elected. Most contributors do not do that, but the candidate often cannot know which ones are doing it until after the election,when legislation appears on the table that would benefit the contributors.
  Well, your vote counts. One vote for either of the other two candidates is not likely to decide the election, it is not likely to be the deciding vote. But, a vote for me sends a message against influence spending. In me, you will get just as much of a prudent, thoughtful, reasonable, and well-reasoning public official as you will if you elect one the other two candidates. This time, cast a vote for someone campaigning without contributions.