Yes on Prop. 59

County district attorneys in California are elected, and Proposition 59 provides an amendment to the state constitution to keep it that way. It makes sense.

There are risks, of course, both in the electoral process and in the appointment process. In major urban areas, including Los Angeles County, some outstanding candidates for district attorney may be eliminated simply by the cost of campaigning in an election. But this is a position with broad discretion, and the concurrence of the voters is an important control over the way in which the office is handled. There are graver risks in placing the appointment in the hands of the boards of supervisors that govern the counties.

We recommend a yes vote on Proposition 59.