Members of four groups gathered at the Capitol this morning to call for passage of a bill that would allow public financing for Big Island county elections.

The groups want lawmakers to revisit a bill introduced last year and create a pilot program of sorts for Hawai'i County Council elections. The Big Island council already has passed a resolution in support.

Some 20 representatives of Voter Owned Hawai'i, the Hawai'i County Council, the Democratic Party of Hawai'i and the League of Women Voters were on hand today.

The state currently has partial public funding, but candidates say the amount available isn't enough to finance a successful race. In 2006, only 21 candidates statewide used the system and the three who won were all incumbents.