The Campbell Reporter

Letters & Opinions

Has the political landscape of Campbell changed?

Our small town of less than 40,000 joined the big leagues this election season in the way city council candidates run for office, leaving us to question whether the face of Campbell politics may have been changed permanently.

This election catapulted Campbell into a much grander process, a process where candidates relied on the support of state and national political machines to win seats in races no matter how large their constituency .

In our city this political groundswell worked well for Evan Low, who won his bid for a council seat with the help of state and national donations. Money was pumped into his campaign which in turn deluged the city with campaign mailers, letters, signs and telephone surveys to decipher voter preferences. All the other candidates, who were significantly outspent, only had local representation to steer them through the campaign season.

However, Low could have been anyone. His win is merely a footprint in our city's politics. The bigger issue here is whether Campbell residents care about the methods used to help candidates who might ultimately govern their city.

Are we comfortable with political machines and fat wallets breaking into Campbell politics? Are we OK voting for candidates who might be simply eyeing our city as a mere stepping stone toward a bigger prize?

It's interesting to note that our sister cities of Los Gatos and Saratoga did not employ these tactics, and their campaign contributions reflect as much. In Los Gatos donations totaled approximately $46,500. In Saratoga it was about $42,000. We on the other hand broke the bank inching up close to $100,000.

Two years from now will we hit a new watermark in a city that prides itself on a strong sense of community and small-town charm?

Since our city's incorporation in 1952, council members have served their constituency with one focus--doing what is best for Campbell.

Many of these individuals were Campbell natives. They were civic-minded individuals who came from positions of leadership or had years of business experience in Campbell. They understood their city intimately and dedicated their energy to its well being.

Their actions were certainly not without mistakes. Most notable the loop streets that cut off the downtown from commerce, but those decisions were reversed and improved upon through a master plan for historic downtown that ultimately revitalized the district into a destination place.

This is the kind of decision that cannot be made by individuals elected to office by outside influence. This is the kind of decision that is made by individuals who understand the essence of the community they live in.

We hope that this year's election has not placed us in a whole new arena when it comes to local politics. We do not need a behind-the-scenes political machine helping our community elect its officials. Let's leave that for the big boys like San Jose.