The Post editors properly express concern for campaign financing (July 17, 2012). The editorial leads with a discussion of Peter Nordbye's House District 52 campaign. Peter is accepting contributions of only $50 and from only each resident of House District 52. His opponent makes it clear that he will continue to spend any available funds. The point then is made by the editors that Sen. Jeff Merkley's promotion of a limit of $10,000 from each contributor and identification of each contributor is what is needed.

No argument here from us in the Peter Nordbye campaign. We are only working to be sure the 65,000 residents of HD 52 are actually as free as possible from outside big-money influences to select a person of their own choosing, and that the political issues (one of which is campaign finance reform, including just who is funding each campaign, by how much and for what purposes), and the qualifications of the candidates ought to be the matters discussed. Not whatever distorted information (including smears) outside funding sources decide to say about the candidates through their blatant advertising. This doesn't add anything of substance to the campaign — just teases a few voters across to attempt to win a close election by a few percentage points.

Senator Merkley is properly trying to change the system for residents of the entire United States, 5,000 times as many people as we are advocating for in the Peter Nordbye campaign. We local activists for Peter Nordbye have no such ambitions. We are only trying to affect the electoral process for HD 52 residents. And we can actually do this if we focus and all set out minds to it.

So go to it, Senator Merkley, and keep advocating for campaign finance reform on a grand scale, Post editors. We agree with you and support your efforts. But we'll just keep trying to do so on a very practical, easily observable and immediately applicable local way through Peter Nordbye's campaign.

Dick McQueen

Brightwood