Doug Deitch, 2nd District Supervisoral Candidate, proposes candidates' campaign finance meeting and initiative

In the current supervisor race for the Second District, my candidacy is being joined with the candidacy of three other very accomplished and capable candidates for this office, Sharon Gray, Christine McGuire, and Ellen Pirie.

Unfortunately for three of us, only one of us will win. However, in this process, irrespective of the outcome, it is my belief that the four of us can join together in this campaign and successfully make a very positive and constructive statement on campaign financing, as well as fostering increased participation in the electoral process.

Current county ordinances create only a contribution limit of $250 per individual and $600 per business and labor union contributions. The ordinance is silent on the issue of total amount that may be expended per candidate on their particular campaign and total amount that a candidate may personally contribute to their own campaign.

Consequently, I have contacted and agree to meet with my three fellow candidates to consider all aspects of this issue. Supervisors Beautz and Almquist and candidates Pearl and Dugan are likewise welcome to meet with us. I further agree, pledge, and commit myself to join with my fellow candidates in the Second District and comply with whatever further limits and restrictions they may propose (and feel is appropriate and in the best interests of our community and electoral process) to foster and to heighten public participation in the process, to focus this electoral process on substantive issues, positions, qualifications, and experience instead of catch phrases, sound bytes, and media blitzes, to provide a more level playing field for all candidates, and to lessen the, at times, undue and harmful influence of money in our political system.

SIGNED BY DOUGLAS DEITCH Douglas Deitch December 22, 1999