I'm starting Part 1 with the closing statements of the six candidates vying for the soon to be vacated CD 12 seat.

Felt like it would be a bit more realistic of the candidates fortitude and ability. The true merits of a performance become apparent when you are tired and seemingly on you last legs. That's when the barriers to creativity are breached and hidden resources flourish.

Or else I lost the opening statements. :-)

I find ALL the candidates worthy of consideration. No loose cannons or mentally undernourished wannabees as we saw during the Mayoral race in 2009 against Villaraigosa.

These are all mainstream guys and one gal that know their way around the neighborhood and have the requisite ability.

An engineer or two, an accountant, a project manager, successful business entrepreneurs and a public employee. An embarrassment of riches lavished on the North Valley.

Yet there are differences that will assuredly thin the group on election day March 8th. But it would be a shame and a loss of community dialogue if there was no General Election on May 17th for CD 12.

Brad Smith set that tone when he said there should be no coronation implying the current CD 12 Council Member's Chief of Staff, Mitchell Englander should not be the heir presumptive.

As worthy as he may be in eyes of many downtown and his supporters, the neighborhood community voices should have their days in the public discourse for the General Election on May 17th as well.