Opinion ID: 2615134
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Seattle's campaign finance ordinance has an underlying public interest.

Text: The integrity of elections is essential to the very preservation of a free society. State v. Conifer Enters., Inc., 82 Wn.2d 94, 508 P.2d 149 (1973) (upholding RCW 29.79.490(4) which prohibits paying those circulating an initiative petition by a rate per signature collected). In Fritz v. Gorton, 83 Wn.2d 275, 284, 517 P.2d 911 (1974), our court took note of the concern about the influence of campaign contributions on politics, which led to Initiative 276 (RCW 42.17): We can note particularly that in recent years there has been more dissemination to the public of information as to campaign contributions and expenditures and the use and misuse thereof in the election of public officials. There has been more information about the proper and improper function of lobbying activities, in the decisionmaking processes of government, and more particularly in the enactment or nonenactment of legislation. There has been an increasing emphasis on the importance of the role of money, funds, and finances in regard to the aforementioned matters. This case upheld detailed disclosure requirements of candidates for public office, including information of a very personal and private nature. Fritz, at 286. The public interest was not seriously challenged at the trial level, nor can it be.