CITYWATCH TODAY—LA threw an election and nobody showed up. Some consider the absence of 90% of LA’s voters a lack of engagement. I think LA was speaking loud and clear. The message: When our leaders take elections seriously, so will we.
Reelected Mayor Garcetti tried to blame the low turnout on voter burnout. Try ‘lack of leadership’ burnout. Try ‘lack of interest’ burnout. Try ‘lack of trust’ burnout.
All of the confident, fat-cat incumbents campaigned-in-hiding. All dodged invitations to debates from neighborhood councils and community groups. They recognized the less than competitive candidate field and felt no obligation to come face to face with voters and explain their non-existent visions for our city or field questions from assertive and agitated crowds.
There were no winners this election in Los Angeles, just losers. With mediocre at best challengers on the ballot … the few voters who could be bothered to vote … sent ethically challenged incumbents back to their City Hall seats … in an election climate more akin to a burial than celebration of recognized achievement. Please.
Let’s stop the pretense. Let’s just see it for what it is. An expectations bar set so low that sleeping with developers and snubbing constituents are no longer reasons to withhold your vote. On the other hand, maybe I’m missing the bright side in this little parable. After all, on Wednesday, 90% of the voters withheld their votes and … sent a message loud and clear.
Ken Draper-Editor, CityWatch
