Salem said if his strategy is successful, he hopes his race will convince other Evanston residents that they can run on $500 alone, combating what he sees as a trend of an increased “pay-to-play” quality in school board campaigns.

Source: https://dailynorthwestern.com/2023/03/08/city/evanston-school-board-candidates-say-campaigning-costs-pose-barriers/

The “pay-to-play” scheme continued after Bickers stopped working for the city, prosecutors said.

Source: https://federalnewsnetwork.com/government-news/2023/06/prosecutors-want-to-dismiss-some-charges-for-former-atlanta-official-in-corruption-case/

“They needed one another for the pay-to-play scheme to work,” the prosecutor told the jury.

Source: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-02-21/raymond-chan-bribery-trial-los-angeles

While New York takes significant strides toward democratizing its campaigns, New Jersey faces ongoing challenges in dismantling a corrupt pay-to-play system that allows political insiders to maintain their grip on power.

Source: https://njtoday.news/2023/05/28/new-york-steps-forward-as-new-jersey-leaps-backward-on-campaign-cash/