For more than 20 years, Seattle elections have survived without public funding, but some council members think it’s time for a vote on whether the funding should be reinstated.

Seattle City Council member Nick Licata discussed on his blog why he supports public financing of local elections, which may help reduce financial barriers and get more people to run for office:

In pursuit of electing a City Council government that better reflects the priorities of a one-person one-vote democracy, some public funding of campaigns would increase the role and emphasis of small donors in the electoral process and by extension also broaden the public’s influence on the Council’s decision making. The public should have an opportunity to make that decision on this fall’s ballot.

While Seattle election campaigns haven’t used partial public financing since 1991, the idea to reinstate it has been discussed since 2008, but the Council delayed the vote due to the recession and low city revenues.

In December, Council members Licata, Clark, O’Brien and Rasmussen asked the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission to recommend a public financing model to create taxpayer funded campaigns.

With the recommendations expected in early March and a potential ballot measure in either the primary or general election, the public is invited to learn more about the issue on Thursday.

Part 1:  Public Election Financing In Practice

Thursday, Jan. 31, 6 – 8 p.m.

 Seattle University, 901 12th Avenue

 LeRoux Conference Center

 Panel presentation with audience questions and answers featuring Heather Holt and David Tristan, Los Angeles City Ethics Commission; John St. Croix, Executive Director, San Francisco Ethics Commission; and Debbie Aiona, League of Women Voters of Portland

 A second discussion will be held Feb. 13 at Seattle Central Library.