Who's Financing the Public Candidate Financing Campaign in Portland

Here's a quick follow-up for those of you who watched our endorsement interview last week with supporters and opponents of public campaign finance in Portland.

Fresh fund-raising reports show that proponents of public campaign finance (Measure 26-108) continuing in City Hall elections have raised more than $93,000 in cash, compared to a little over $6,000 in cash collected by opponents.

Among the more recent notable donors to the "Yes" side are Commissioner Amanda Fritz ($500), the only non-incumbent to win election with public campaign finance in Portland; Chris Smith ($250), who qualified for public financing in the 2008 race but failed to win a council seat; and state Sen. Chip Shields (D-Portland). One other big recent donation on top of others already made to the "Yes" side comes from philanthropist and Dignity Village benefactor Lee Larson ($10,000).