George,

The last Council Race was my first taste of the political process in C'Ville and I must say I felt like I had been poisoned. *Thoughtful and positive !!! What planet did that Council Election take place on.

The process of selecting the Democratic candidates was the election as far as I can tell. I actually have no issue with that. It doesn't begin to balance the rest of the state.

I was very troubled, however, by the candidate selection process. I had never before witnessed this "Mass Madness." Certain candidates seemed colluding to dump an incumbent who was the only woman on the council. Who knows how many unregistered voters participated. The guidance given from the podium was woeful. The final winners were decided only through the resignation of a candidate who perhaps recognized the lack of integrity which seemed to rule these procedings. Colorful, certainly. Thoughtful and positive? Balderdash!!! I felt like I had been transported back to "Teapot Times."

The process is only part of the problem but can be easily addressed. C'Ville should come into the modern age and hold true primaries . Or at least have the voter registry available to check eligibility before people are seated in "voting" sections. Have an observer section for those who are not eligible to vote. I would have been seated in that section. I was new enough to not be registered yet. I did not vote.

While we're on the subject of the election process, let's get rid of the "chad " system of voting. I have been voting for 30 yrs and I have never before needed instructions or had to squint at the voting apparatus to see which hole lined up right.

Charlottesville lost a lot of it's "gleam" for this newcomer when I went through the local elections.

Kathy Baker (electronic mail, October 17, 2001).

Editor's Note: In an October 17th letter to the editor of The Daily Progress, David RePass discussed the timing of city council elections, voter turnout and responsive political leadership. The Daily Progress entitled his letter "Autumn council vote could divert attention from poor leadership" and it read, in part:

"There are two ways in which the council can increase turnout: Make an effort to reach all people in the community and earn their interest and support, or take a free ride by piggybacking on the popularity of the presidential race. One reason why there is low turnout in any election is that political leaders are not responding to people's needs and concerns. By the simple act of moving the election to November, council members can feelgood because turnout is higher and yet have done nothing to earn that extra turnout."

I asked readers whether they attribute low turnout in Charlottesville City Council races, currently held in May, to unresponsive leadership? And whether they believe that the Charlottesville Democratic party, which has nominated city council elections for the past few years, has been unresponsive to the needs of the city?

*In the first part of the letter RePass had stated, "We pride ourselves in Charlottesville on having thoughtful, positive campaigns with forums and civil discussions of the issues."