Fairness in Campaign Financing

I just finished reading Julie Froeberg’s fine commentary on Proposition 140 (“Limiting Legislative Terms Is No Way to Attract Top People,” March 17).

I reluctantly voted for 140 as the only alternative to counter the influence and control exercised by PACs, special interest groups, business interests, wealthy contributors, etc., over elected officials.

It is apparently almost impossible to attain and retain elected office without very significant financial contributions. As a consequence, elected officials accepting these contributions must be influenced when voting on issues of concern to their campaign contributors.

Far too many people do not vote; they believe that their vote has no meaning, since they do not belong to the Campaign Contributors Club.

We do need a publicly funded campaign system that would be fair to all candidates and would eliminate the evils of the present funding system. This applies not only to Sacramento but to Washington as well.

H.J. BENGEL, Westminster