Tustin Elections

Re the article on the Tustin City Council election (Nov. 2):

Tustin citizens have a golden opportunity to improve the council’s quality and effectiveness if final approval is given to moving municipal elections up to April next year, instead of delaying until November.

Elections in April will allow voters to concentrate specifically on Tustin, without being distracted by the many state propositions and national and state candidates and issues.

Because April elections are less costly for candidates, they allow more people to run, thus typically providing a larger field of office seekers from which to choose, and making it less likely that only those with ties to special interests will campaign.

Some of those opposed to April elections refer to additional costs to the “taxpayer.” But in reality, the expense of April elections is only about 25 cents per citizen, a minuscule amount compared to the millions of dollars that have been at stake, and lost, to the city in recent months. Moreover, cost is usually not the real reason for opposition.

Incumbents, for example, know they have a much better chance for reelection if their record is obscured as voters are overwhelmed with the last-minute scramble to go through national and state campaign materials in November. Obviously, in an April election, voters have a greater chance of clearly knowing the issues and candidates.

There is no doubt that Tustin will benefit by an early opportunity to have our very own elections, again.

CARL KASALEK

Tustin