We've got some big decisions coming up this November, and we need to make them together, as a community. At stake are critical UA issues like:

• library censorship
• school levy
• the self-funding, usage-based model for city services
• Master Plan implementation
• environmental legislation
• UA's long term future as a model community

Especially important is the City Council race.

In the past couple years, several of UA's model services and programs have been under attack----some saved only by narrow margins. If Tim Rankin's ultra-right, hand-picked candidates win seats on Council, their narrow agendas could change our city dramatically.

Over the next several weeks we'll offer political commentary regarding the council race based on member survey results and information we are learning from the larger community.

With low voter turnout in off years, UAPA members can swing this election. In 2005 the difference between 4th and 5th place City Council candidates was 73 votes. With 34 precincts, that's about 2 votes per precinct. With all 1400 UAPA members all casting 3 City Council votes, UAPA members could collectively account for about 19% of the total vote in 2007. That is really, really high. Absurdly high.

UAPA is a member-directed organization—we believe that all of us, together, are smarter than any one of us. Thanks for your time and input—and for everything you do.

Sincerely,

UAPA Executive Committee