My first active role in Glendale politics was a little more than seven years ago. There seemed to be a lot more at stake. Control of local boards and commissions appeared not to reflect the needs of the community and catered to special interests that had money to invest in political campaigns.
There was something wrong with the system. Many reforms were implemented with regard to campaign finance, which helped, but the realization by candidates and appointed city officials that they were accountable was the real force for change.
One of the changes came from fear that the election process itself was corrupted and needed reform, that some well-organized segments of our community were manipulating the process by helping people fill out ballots or stuffing mailboxes with absentee ballots under assumed names.