Really, every vote can count

Robin Leffler

The importance of an informed vote can’t be overestimated.

Four years ago, I was co-campaign manager for a Costa Mesa City

Council candidate. The experience was quite an eye-opener. I learned

that many people read into a candidate what they want to see. They

make assumptions based on appearance, gender or party affiliation.

It is very important for a city council candidate to walk

precincts, but some people will vote for a person just because “they

came to my door and shook my hand,” without finding out what that

candidate believes on key issues.

My job was to get my candidate on the council, so I gladly took

whatever we could get. Secretly, I was appalled at how uninformed

many voters were content to be.

Your vote is precious. Be informed. Don’t assume. Find out if the

candidate shares your vision for the future of Costa Mesa.

This is your chance to judge the candidates for yourself. Go to

the Candidate Forums or watch them on TV. (Nothing beats being there

in person.) Ask the hard questions. Listen carefully to the answers.

Beware of people who try to be all things to all people. If a

candidate is currently on the City Council or Planning Commission,

look at their voting record. That will speak louder than any campaign

rhetoric.

How responsive have they been to the public? If they aren’t

currently in office, have they been involved in local politics? Have

they participated on issues you care about? Which side have they

worked on?

Although some may differ, I strongly believe City Council

elections should be nonpartisan. People can be Republican, Democrat,

Libertarian or anything else and still agree on basic philosophies to

guide our city. Only one thing should matter in Costa Mesa: Does the

candidate you are thinking about voting for share the same vision for

our city that you have?

As an example, in 2000, Cindy Brenneman and I were co-managers of

the Karen Robinson for City Council campaign. Our candidate was a

Democrat. We were both Republicans. But we all agreed on key issues

and had the same growth philosophy for Costa Mesa. It was a genuine

bipartisan campaign.

In November 2000, Robinson won by only 34 votes. Truly, each vote

is valuable. Your vote could be the one that decides the outcome of

Costa Mesa’s 2004 City Council election.

The Mesa Verde Community Inc. candidates forum is 7 p.m. tonight

at the Downtown Recreation Center, 1860 Anaheim Ave. The Daily

Pilot/Comcast forum is 6:30 p.m. Sept. 15 at Costa Mesa City Council

Chambers, 77 Fair Drive.

* ROBIN LEFFLER is the Mesa Verde Community Inc. government

relations chair and vice president of Costa Mesa Citizens for

Responsible Growth.