In case you missed it, here is my letter published in the N&O today:

Three cheers for Ruth Sheehan’s call
for partisan Raleigh City Council elections (column, Sept. 2). The myth
of a non-partisan City Council was shattered after Barack Obama’s
election when Democrats on the council repeatedly mentioned Obama’s
impressive campaigning skills and bright future in store for American
under a new administration. The N&O headline read “Obama love-fest
riles GOP’s Isley.”

And while we are at it, let’s eliminate voter
suppression created by holding City Council elections separate from
national and statewide elections. Voter suppression is even worse in
Raleigh council elections because they are held in October, unlike 11
other Wake County cities that hold their elections in November of
odd-numbered years.

In the last election in October 2007, the two
at-large candidates won with less than 5 percent of the registered
voters and the total turnout was about 8 percent of registered voters.
This voter suppression should embarrass all of Raleigh’s council
members.

Michael Sanera
Research Director and Local Government Analyst
John Locke Foundation
Raleigh