Pete Maysmith, Common Cause

Pete Maysmith is Common Cause’s National Director of State Organizations and Campaigns. In that capacity he assists Common Cause’s 36 state organizations in organizational building and campaign development and implementation. Common Cause is a national nonprofit that fights to ensure that powerful institutions in society—including government, corporations, and the news media—serve the public interest, not narrow special interests.

Pete has more than 15 years of public interest organizing experience, including serving as the Executive Director of Colorado Common Cause from January 2001 until August 2006. Before becoming the Colorado director, Pete was the organization’s program director for two years.

Prior to his work with Common Cause, Pete was the field director and democracy program director for CoPIRG and the deputy field director and field director for U.S. PIRG in Washington, D.C. He grew up in Colorado and graduated from Duke University in 1991 with a degree in public policy studies. Pete was awarded the public interest Chancellor’s Scholarship by the University of Denver College of Law in the spring of 2004 and is currently a third-year evening law student.

How did you decide to make Amendment 41 a top priority?

Common Cause has long supported comprehensive ethics reform. Unfortunately, the Legislature has repeatedly killed pro-ethics bills, so we have been planning to go directly to the voters on ethics for some time now. The national ethics scandals and the problems during the last legislative session here in Colorado convinced us that it was timely to propose an ethics initiative.

How will Amendment 41 impact Colorado politics?

It will change our political culture for the better. Prior to Amendment 41, the state Capitol was awash in freebies flowing to legislators. The same was true to a lesser degree in county commissions and city councils. Amendment 41 will be one step toward leveling the playing field for all Coloradans.

Well-heeled lobbyists will no longer be able to use their financial might to wine and dine elected officials. The public’s business should not be done in a skybox at the Pepsi Center on a lobbyist’s dime—Amendment 41 will end that.

How can allies like CoPIRG and Common Cause work together to tackle important problems?

Common Cause and CoPIRG have worked together for several decades now. It is a classic example of the whole being greater than the sum of the two parts. Working in coalition in the public interest world is key—it allows us to combine policy expertise, strategic visioning and grassroots power to win more campaigns.

After winning Amendment 41, what issues will Common Cause take on next?

We have worked hard to improve the way we fund political campaigns in Colorado. We’ve had some successes in improving an awful system but more must be done. It is time to begin a conversation in Colorado about clean elections—campaigns in which candidates agree to a set spending limit, raise a qualifying amount of very small ($5.00) contributions, and then receive public funds to run their campaigns.

Public financing levels the playing field, encourages more candidates of color and women to run, and allows campaigns to focus on people and ideas, not fundraising. Our neighbor Arizona has had great success with this system and we are excited to work with CoPIRG and others to make it a reality in Colorado.

What can members of CoPIRG do to ensure a responsive, transparent government?

Hold your elected officials accountable. Send e-mails, write letters, make phone calls. Our state and local leaders need to hear from you. They notice when their constituents get active on an issue. The more we engage with our elected leaders, the more they are going to be responsive to our concerns.

CoPIRG is a longtime ally of Common Cause. CoPIRG has played a key role in passing numerous good government reforms with Common Cause over the last 30 years and we look forward to working with them to achieve even more victories in the future.