2010 Candidate Forum Questions

NCVCE has prepared sample questions on campaign finance reform that can be used for candidate forums, candidate questionnaires, or corresponding with your state legislator.

If you would like a question specifically tailored for your organization or issue, please send a request to info@ncvce.org.

Questions for NC Legislative Candidates:

    1. Currently, North Carolina law allows statewide judicial candidates and some Council of State candidates to qualify for public campaign funding or 'Voter-Owned Elections' If they refuse special interest funds, adhere to spending limits, and prove their grassroots support by obtaining a large number of small contributions from voters. Dozens of candidates, Democrats and Republicans, have utilized this system in NC since 2004. Will you support expansion of 'voter-owned elections' to five more Council of State offices? Will you also support local authorization legislation that would allow the state's largest cities to experiment with local public campaign financing if they choose to do so?

    2. The average cost of winning most competitive legislative races in North Carolina is now well over $100,000.  The rising cost of campaigns in North Carolina serves as a barrier to qualified, good candidates who want to run for office.  Would you support the creation of a 'voter-Owned Elections' public financing option for state legislative races that would provide candidates with an alternative to the money chase?

 

Questions for US House / US Senate Candidates:

    1. This question is about the issue of money in politics. We all know that the cost of running for national office is skyrocketing. In addition, the recent Citizens United Supreme Court case now makes it even harder to regulate money flowing into political campaigns. Do you support the Fair Elections Now Act, a voluntary public campaign financing program for Congressional candidates?

    NOTE: Rep. Walter Jones, Rep. David Price, Rep. Larry Kissell, Rep. Brad Miller, Rep. Butterfield, and Rep. Mel Watt are all co-sponsors of the Fair Elections Now Act and should be thanked!

 

Question for City / County Candidates:

    1. Large amounts of money raised for local elections come from developers or businesses that are regulated by or get contracts from local governments. This can create a strong public impression of a conflict of interest.  If elected, would you support passage of state law that would give North Carolina counties and cities the authority to create local 'voter-owned Elections' or public financing programs for local candidates as an alternative to the current privately financed campaign finance system?

 

Question for Appellate Court Judicial candidates (Supreme Ct, Ct of Appeals):

    1. As you know, North Carolina provides a public campaign financing or 'voter-owned elections' option for Appellate court judicial races. Please tell us if you are utilizing this unique program and why or why not you chose to do so.

 

Question for District / Superior Court Judicial candidates:

    1. As you probably know, since 2004, Appellate Court candidates have been able to opt into a public campaign financing program to help finance their campaigns. Would you take advantage of a similar 'voter-owned elections' type program for District / Superior Court races in North Carolina if it were available to you?