The citizen’s advisory panel convened by the council has recommended waiting to bring the idea to the voters until 2009 and holding off on implementing any public financing system until 2011. The PI’s Angela Galloway has the story here. The idea’s champion, council member Sally Clark, had considered putting it on the ballot as early as this fall, but she also questioned whether that would give enough time to properly vet the plan. Good thing. Careful planning and heads-up administration of public financing seem to be the key to a successful system. Just ask Portland.