Is it possible to encourage candidates to run campaigns that focus on the issues instead of attacking their opponents? Members of the League of Women Voters of Clark County think so, and they've got candidates voluntarily pledging to do so. The Clark County’s Fair Campaign Practices Project asks candidates to conduct positive campaigns and avoid unfair attacks on opponents as well as distortions or misrepresentations.

The pledge sets out four standards of behavior that the Clark County League crafted. An independent five-member panel appointed by the League takes complaints from candidates or registered voters who believe a candidate has violated this fair-campaign pledge.

“We think it’s made a difference,” said Judie Stanton, chair of the Candidate Forums Committee, who noted that nearly 40 of 60 candidates vying for local office in Clark County in 2021 signed the pledge.

“We are all better served—the voters, the candidates, and our community as a whole—when candidates for public office focus on their plans and goals and how each one of them believes they are the best person for the position,” said Nancy Halvorson, president of the Clark County League.

Fair Campaign Pledge logo

New this year is a colorful logo the Clark County League produced that candidates could display on their campaign materials to show their commitment. One enthusiastic candidate exhibited a large replica of the logo on a parade car he rode in, and a candidate planning a run for office in 2022 has already signed the pledge and wants to use the logo during his campaign announcement.

Materials needed to host a similar project are available in Word format on the Clark County League website for other Leagues to use. If you make changes to the project or create a different logo, please share it with the Clark County League.

It would be a great development to adopt this effort statewide. Voters would benefit by knowing which candidates have voluntarily pledged to run fair campaigns that focus on the issues and do not attack their opponents.