Marv Ott, the Republican candidate running in the Minnesota House District 3A race has joined the growing list of lawmakers who've decided the big checks that lobbyists and the like are able to write campaigns aren't worth the questions about ethics they raise.  He's swearing off money from lobbyists and special interests for his campaign.

Ott's commitment to eschew money that might suggest he's working for someone other than his voters is admirable one:

During an election year, candidates for state representative are able to accept up to $6,300 from special interest groups, PACs and lobbyists, according to Ott. Some political analysts contend these special interest groups generally have a single agenda and use money to influence the votes of legislators, he added in his announcement.

“Neither I nor my opponents can stop independent expenditures by political parties from happening, but we can say no to special interest, PAC and lobbyist influence. While I respect their First Amendment right to petition government, special interests, PACs and lobbyists are too powerful, not only in Washington D.C. but at the state capitol as well, and they do not have the best interest of northern Minnesota at heart. My only special interest is the people of northern Minnesota.”

While Minnesota does offer some public financing to candidates who limit their raising and spending, it's not quite the gold standard that a Clean Elections full public financing law would be.  I hope Ott and other candidates like him who see the danger in special interest contributions come out strongly in favor of full public financing programs as well.