EDITORIAL

If you’re still undecided on voting today, let us remind you why you

should.

The future.

First, there is the future leadership of the country at stake. The

race for the presidency between George W. Bush and Al Gore is the closest

one in recent memory. It appears it will go down to the wire and, for

once, be decided here on the West Coast.

Then there is the future of Congress. Will the House of

Representatives and the Senate continue to be controlled by the GOP? Or

will they be taken over by the Democrats?

The direct opposite applies to the future of the state Legislature,

where Republicans would like to take over both the Assembly and state

Senate.

And there is the future of California’s public schools to think about.

Proposition 38 would allow $4,000 vouchers to be issued to parents for

private school tuition, and Proposition 39 would lower the two-thirds

majority requirement to pass school-related bonds.

But the most important debates -- those that will directly shape our

future -- will take place right here at home.

Measure S, the so-called Greenlight Initiative, could have dramatic

effects on future development in Newport Beach. If it passes, every large

-- and maybe every small development -- will be put before a vote of the

people before it proceeds.

It’s a draconian albeit clever message, one so hot that it is being

watched closely statewide by slow-growth and development forces alike.

And if that hasn’t grabbed your attention yet, don’t forget that the

future of local government hangs in the balance today -- specifically,

how the city councils in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa will shape up, as

well as the Newport-Mesa school board and the Coast Community College

District board of trustees.

The point is, the community needs your vote. Pardon the cliches, but

for democracy to flourish, for our nation to prosper, we need the

involvement of our citizens. The more we participate, the better our

government will be.

Remember, nothing less than our future depends on it.