Elections present communities with very strong candidates. It takes courage to run for office. Sadly, it also takes money, and “big money” in elections is destructive of democracy.

In this election, voting “Yes” on Question 1 will restore the effectiveness of clean elections.

We have all seen terribly destructive negative ads on television or as last-minute mailers, ads about good people we like. Those ads have an undisclosed source, but may be tagged as something virtuous, such as “Mainers for a Better Tomorrow.” They represent companies that want to bring Maine weaker environmental standards, weaker labor standards, open-pit mining … whatever makes them money. Those dirty, untraceable ads are funded by more money than candidates are allowed to spend.

A “yes” vote on Question 1 means the source of the dirty ads must be identified.

Currently, candidates for the Legislature have to spend enormous amounts of time looking for money, paying special heed to those who have provided it. If you were bright, ethical and made $37,000 a year, would you have the courage to run for the state Senate, since tens of thousands of dollars are required?

The Clean Election Law will make these good, honest candidacies possible. Importantly, Question 1 will also significantly raise fines and penalties on those who break campaign finance laws.

The choice is ours. Clean elections or dirty elections?

I hope others will join me in voting “yes” on Question 1 Nov. 3.

Jim Wellehan, Auburn