Gov. Chris Gregoire signed a bill into law Monday that allows voters in cities, counties and other local government agencies to decide whether public funding should be doled out to candidates running for office.

“It opens up the field. We’ll have broader participation,” said Sen. Rosa Franklin, D-Tacoma, the bill’s chief sponsor.

Publicly funded campaigns were outlawed in 1992 by voter initiative. Before then, some local governments made public funding available for candidates, but it wasn’t widespread.

Franklin first introduced the bill in 1999 and has fought for it since then. She said she’s sure South Sound cities, counties and other agencies will adopt public financing.

The City of Seattle, which used public funding for campaigns, lobbied for the bill to pass and seems to be the most interested. South Sound local governments have been noncommittal so far, though.

Tacoma hasn’t considered it, according to Rob McNair-Huff, a spokesman for the City of Tacoma. Pierce County did not return phone calls for comment Monday. At least one Gig Harbor council member – who also works as a lobbyist in Olympia – thinks it’s a good idea.

“In one campaign, if you fund four candidates, that’s $20,000 maximum,” said Derek Young. He was basing the estimate on the $5,000 he said was needed to run for a city council position in Gig Harbor.

The relatively small sum allows people who may not otherwise have run for office a chance, Young said.

The new law still outlaws public financing of statewide campaigns or school board positions. But it allows counties, cities, towns and other local governments to let voters decide whether to publicly finance campaigns. Local governments could not use state funding to finance the campaigns.

Gregoire said in a brief statement before signing the bill that it’s voluntary and must be voter-approved. The law also puts the burden of coming up with parameters – like who can get financing and how much – up to the local governments.

The finance bill was one of dozens of bills on Monday’s agenda. Gregoire has until April 5 to sign the hundreds of bills passed by the 2008 Legislature into law.

Niki Sullivan: 360-754-6093

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