John Rauh, who created the group Americans for Campaign Reform told guests at the Cleveland City Club that it's time voters change how they send representatives to Washington, D.C.
"the search system for the leadership of our nation, 536 people, is broken."
Rauh says only people of privilege or with unlimited personal wealth have been able to muster the effort needed to win congressional seats.
He points to Ohio's last four congressional races as an example.
"66 of your incumbents in Ohio ran for re-election. You have had one challenger in Ohio in the last four cycles - who had a million dollars or more, and it was his own money."
Rauh's group wants all congressional contests to become publicly funded. He says campaigns would be less expensive, and potential leaders without previous financial support would get the chance to prove their value. Rauh himself ran unsuccessfully for U.S. senate in New Hampshire in 1992.
Rick Jackson, 90.3.
