By David Holtzman

Saturday, September 17, 2005

This morning, Councilmember Bill Rosendahl became the first elected City of Los Angeles official to sign the following statement: "I endorse having instant runoff elections for city and county offices in Los Angeles County."

Bill Rosendahl was elected this year in a two-round, three-candidate election. No candidate got a majority in the first round, so the two front-runners -- and their volunteers -- and their donors -- and the voters -- had to engage in a (NON-instant) runoff election held ten weeks later.

Rosendahl said that in endorsing instant runoff elections he was honoring friendships with, and teachings from, people with whom he has discussed the instant runoff system, in some cases on the public affairs television show he hosted. People he named included Ralph Nader, consumer rights advocate Harvey Rosenfield, Santa Monica City Councilmember Kevin McKeown, and Steven Hill from San Francisco and the Center for Voting and Democracy.

Rosendahl's first question this morning was 'who else have you been talking with?' Thanks to the efforts of a growing L.A. VoteFIRE lobbying corps, including Denise Munro Robb, Linda Piera-Avila, Jeff Horne and Patrick Meighan, I was able to tell him about several contacts to date, and future appointments. I told him he would be the first to sign the endorsement, but I think he took some comfort in the thought that he probably won't be alone for long.

Special thanks are due to Edgar Saenz and Susan Haskell, who joined me to form this morning's delegation. Both Edgar and Susan are on a first-name basis with Bill Rosendahl, and their participation seemed key to obtaining his endorsement. Thank you both!!

I've posted an endorsement form at http://lavotefire.org/endorsement -- please take it to any candidates or elected officials you know in the county, and send signed forms to L.A. VoteFIRE, 1255 Federal Ave. #304, Los Angeles, CA 90025.

Thanks again to everyone helping with this!

David Holtzman is on the board of Californians for Electoral Reform and leads Los Angeles Voters for Instant Runoff Elections (L. A. VoteFIRE).