“Vote No on Measure A” [Endorsements, Oct. 18] was most bizarre to criticize Measure A on the upcoming Santa Barbara City ballot because it is not some all-inclusive answer to local political reform. That was never the intent, and Measure A will do nothing to prevent any of these potential future reforms.
As the editorial points out, earlier this year several reform measures were killed or emasculated by the City Council—including public finance of elections, campaign contribution limits, and even a serious consideration of district elections. So now, when a modest, incremental election reform does get approved and placed on the ballot as Measure A, that no-brainer act becomes “close but no cigar” and a “gimmick” according to The Independent, even though the resulting boost in voter participation is one of the most basic, effective, and inexpensive political reforms possible.
Election reform in Santa Barbara is a big elephant (or donkey) that will require many bites to eat. Measure A is that first bite. To read the menu, see YesOnMeasureA.blogspot.com.—David Pritchet
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