The taxpayer-funded programs are voluntary, and candidates may opt instead to use money from traditional donations and special interests. They are similar to the system available for U.S. presidential campaigns.

This year in Maine, 83 percent of the state Senate and 77 percent of its House will consist of members who opted to use public financing. Two years ago, 77 percent of senators and 55 percent of House members used it.

This year in Arizona, 23 percent of the state Senate and 58 percent of its House members used public financing, as did its governor, attorney general and state treasurer.

But Vogt notes that such systems are controversial even in many other states where they have been adopted, and they are often underfunded by politicians opposing them.

"They are fought, ironically, by arguments that it is giving taxpayer money to corrupt politicians," she said. But she argues it would remove the appearance of excess influence by special interests.

Musci of Common Cause said he's encouraged that Salt Lake County Council members are at least looking at public financing of county races, but noted the Legislature is not promising.

"In Utah, you have part-time legislators who essentially volunteer their time because their pay is so low. Public financing would free them up from the burden and temptations that come from fund raising, allowing them to spend all their time on their constituents," Vogt said.

Still legislators and especially special interests fight the idea. Vogt said reformers have considered trying to push it by ballot initiative, bypassing the Legislature. But she figures opposition from special interests would likely kill a citizen initiative.

And under Utah law, legislators have personal reasons for keeping lax campaign finance laws. Legislators can use their campaign war chests for any legal purpose — even give it to themselves. Many do use their campaign accounts to pay for various campaign work-related items, like computers and car repairs. And a few have given themselves thousands of dollars when they retire from office, previous reports show.

Mansell, the outgoing Senate president, predicts no chance for public financing in Utah. "I don't see that happening," he said.

Musci agrees that such reform is likely far away.

"Public financing is not ready for prime time here in Utah," he said. "But the average citizen needs to know that if we are going to take back the democratic process, we need to own it and pay for it."

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Contributing: David Croft, Morning News information systems manager, and Brady Mortensen, database programmer; E-mail: lee@desnews.com; bbjr@desnews.com