Now that this Republican's Assembly campaign is over, the lefty writers in the Saratoga News break new territory by actually mentioning for the first time this year our hometown campaign efforts in "their" paper through the DeCinzo cartoon. I mean not even the Saratoga library-held televised Assembly debate, skipped by our lovely Ms. Rebecca Cohn, was worthy of a single word from your writers.

As to [the Dec. 8] hilarious DeCinzo cartoon of me, he proves again that many a true word is spoken in jest. Candidates with an "R" behind their name in the 24th Assembly district (Saratoga, Campbell, south Santa Clara and various portions of San Jose) did not stand a chance this election. We did finish ahead of Republican registration percentage and ahead of President Bush percentage in the 24th A.D.; however, the centerfold Rebecca Cohn pose in the San Jose Magazine featuring fishnet stockings and heels to the ceiling look won on election day. When one tries to use her official "Honorable" title after that act, it sort of makes one choke.

Presciently, my oldest daughter, Carol, told me back in January, "Dad! Cohn looked hot in that magazine. You better watch out." While many older folks were bothered by her heavily airbrushed centerfold picture, the younger ones just seemed to take Cohn's midlife crisis demonstrations right in stride. What the younger men thought about her front page, low cut "booby dress" look needs no comment.

If you know anyone looking for volunteer campaign help running against the termed out Cohn for county supervisor in 2006, give me a call. A number of my friends and I look forward to helping you.

Ernie Konnyu

De Havilland Court

West Valley College
says thanks for 'H'

This is the time to make merry, and West Valley College has much to celebrate. On behalf of the West Valley College students, staff and faculty, I'd like to thank our community for passing Measure H, the first bond measure in our history. We needed 55 percent to win on Election Day and we received 60 percent of the votes! We are grateful that Saratoga has a community newspaper that takes the time to research and report on the reasons a bond measure for West Valley College is necessary.

So many people generously contributed money, resources and time to make sure West Valley would have the funds to repair and renovate buildings that I don't have room to name them all. We greatly appreciate your support of the college and look forward to informing you of our progress as we move forward.

Thank you again for investing in your community college.

Philip L. Hartley, PhD

President, West Valley College

Campaigns should be
run with 'clean money'

Your editorial in the Dec. 1 issue concluded with, "We need campaign spending limits for all levels of elected office." This would be a great idea, but unfortunately the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that campaign spending is covered under First Amendment guarantees of free speech. Consequently, campaign spending limits are unconstitutional.

There is another approach, however, that not only passes constitutional muster because it is voluntary but is highly effective as well. It is called "clean money campaign finance reform" and has enjoyed enormous success in Maine and Arizona. A person who qualifies as a clean money candidate receives public funding for his or her campaign but agrees to a spending limit set by law. If that candidate's opponent is privately funded and exceeds that limit, which he or she is allowed to do, the clean money candidate can receive equal funding up to three or four times the legal limit. That adjustment effectively discourages even privately-funded candidates from over spending.

Clean money financing began in Maine in the 2000 election. In the November election of this year nearly 80 percent of all candidates, both Republican and Democrat, ran publicly funded campaigns. The result was a state legislature that included more women, minorities and ordinary folks who would not have had the wherewithal to run for office had public funding not been available. Special interest money has nearly been eliminated from state elections in Maine. In Arizona, the governor, Democrat Janet Napolitano, was elected through public finding, and that Arizona champion of campaign finance reform, Republican Senator John McCain, is a supporter of clean money.

Here in California, Assemblywoman Loni Hancock of Berkeley will introduce a clean money bill in the state Legislature. She deserves our support.

Herb Engstrom

San Jose

Saratoga is no place
for negative politics

Before the recent elections fade from our memories, some issues need to be addressed. The negative and personal attack strategies practiced by the national and state candidates seemed to filter down to our Saratoga City Council election. There should be no tolerance for such behavior at any level, especially locally.

To the best of my knowledge, Saratoga has always been immune from such campaigns. For all practical purposes, Saratoga is a small town. While few residents know everyone residing in our city, a large percentage of us know each other and/or have mutual friends and acquaintances.

It was appalling to observe one of our city council candidates not only make false accusations but make repeated personal attacks against an opponent. None of us should accept that tactic as "politics as usual." Fortunately, that strategy was unsuccessful and the candidate was defeated.

I am optimistic that future city council candidates will return to our traditional "high road" campaign tactics wherein issues are debated and personal attacks are non-existent.

Marcia Fariss

Saratoga Glen Place