New NC treasurer backs public campaign financing

RALEIGH — North Carolina’s new state treasurer wants future elections for the job to be free of suspicion that campaign donations bought big-money contracts to manage state pension funds.

Janet Cowell supports a bill to be introduced in the General Assembly on Thursday that would add her post to the statewide offices eligible to receive taxpayer funding for campaigns. Voluntary public financing already is provided for candidates for appellate judge, insurance commissioner, schools superintendent and state auditor.

Former state Treasurer Richard Moore’s campaign for governor last year was criticized for donations of more than $700,000 from investment firms that manage billions in the state’s public pension system. Moore said contributors didn’t influence pension decisions.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)