Changing the vote

Re “Dark horses? Forget it,” editorial, Oct. 21

The only way to send a message to Rep. Gary Miller (R-Diamond Bar) and other corrupt incumbents running unopposed is to not mark the dot for them -- leave it blank. You could also write a letter to your representative and let him know you are dissatisfied with his ethics. You want your representative to serve the people, not enrich himself and his friends.

Campaign financing by all taxpayers should be the law. Maybe then we would see less financially endowed candidates challenging these “gods.”

SUZANNE BRUGMAN

Whittier

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Your editorial laid out the problem of unrepresentative representatives nicely. Unfortunately, nothing like your “simple” solution -- redistricting by a panel of retired judges -- is on the ballot next month. A step in the right direction is available to voters this election -- publicly financed campaigns. One of the effects of this has been a rise in “outsider” candidates running serious challenges to “safe” incumbents. The Republican candidate for governor of Maine this year ran against and beat the state GOP’s choice in the primary.

Proposition 89 gives California voters the chance to empower dark horses and, in general, those incumbents and challengers who prefer to be answerable to their constituents rather than to lobbyists. Naturally, it’s vigorously opposed by those who benefit strongly from predictable, business-as-usual politics.

DON DWIGGINS

Northridge

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Although California ballots do not offer the option of “none of the above,” there is a similar choice (besides not voting at all). If you don’t like any of the candidates in a particular race, or you do not understand or are unsure about an initiative, you can simply withhold your vote in that section of the ballot. The items you voted for will still be counted, whereas the options that you ignore will not. If everyone voted in this fashion, it would probably send a message that “none of the above” should be an option in all of California’s future elections.

MIKE HAHN

Highland, Calif.