'If it ain't broke…'

Here we are in the final four days when people will be lining up at their local polling places to vote either country first or for hope and change. Regardless of how we vote in the general election, nothing matters more to Laguna Beach residents as much as the local city council race. This is the election that will really make a difference in our daily lives.

The old saying, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," or, as the online urban dictionary calls it, "predictive maintenance," applies now more than ever. Laguna Beach is in fine shape due to our hard working city council members. Why change it? They are a council of consensus and cooperation and have been able to work together tirelessly through the last, very eventful years in Laguna Beach. Two of our five council members are up for re-election this Nov. 4, mayor pro tem, Cheryl Kinsman, and current mayor, Jane Egly. Both Kinsman and Egly have been part of this exceptional team of doers who have not only helped get things done, but have done so with a spirit of teamwork unlike any other council.

Our city council as a team has ensured that residents can be proud of their city as a charming, yet thriving town. We have some of the cleanest beaches in California; the Bluebird slide was handled remarkably well; our parks are being updated; our streets and sewer systems are under repair; our schools are all award-winning; we have a beautiful resort in the Montage with gorgeous public areas; our canyon is still green; and, unlike many other cities including our own state, we have a balanced budget and fiscal security. These are just a few of the achievements made by our current council.

Kinsman and Egly are both independent thinkers who have displayed their concerns for all citizens, not just the loud, outspoken few. As a certified public accountant, Kinsman has made a sound budget one of her top priorities for the city. She has been a diligent watchdog when it comes to spending taxpayer dollars (which by the way, are your dollars and mine). Egly, a lawyer and professor of law, has been very active in our city's environmental concerns and a strong defender of keeping Laguna Beach's charm intact. And though they may not agree on everything, they agree to work it out and have done so with the city's best interest at heart.

City Council is not a place for resistance or agenda-driven partiality. There have been councils in the past that illustrated this better than most and the results for Laguna Beach were devastating. We need to keep our partisanship out of this election and vote for the city first.

Can Laguna Beach get any better? Of course! No council or individual councilperson will ever be able to solve every problem facing our city. The experience and willingness to work through differences and makes sound decisions for the greater good of Laguna Beach residents is something that Kinsman and Egly have done and will continue to do as re-elected council members.

Amy Kramer is president of the Laguna Beach Republicans. She is married with three children.