This ballot question would extend the countys existing 0.25 percent open space sales and use tax so that the county can issue bonds for open-space purchases, improvements, maintenance and management.

John Kettling, 59, has 18 years of experience in Boulder Valley Schools as a lab advisor as well as 32,500 volunteer hours working with kids on engineering projects. Kettling is the 1998 Impact on Education winner. Kettling says he supports teachers having a professional pay scale so that the teaching profession can achieve upward mobility.

This measure would continue an existing sales and use tax of 0.15 percent indefinitely to fund city services such as the police force, fire protection, libraries, parks and human services. Currently, the tax is set to expire on Dec. 31, 2012.

Ageton, Appelbaum and Cowles are incumbents who have served the city well and who express a range of Boulder values. They each have strong experience dealing with city issues. While Cowles has taken criticism for his support of tougher regulations on house sizes, we understand the need to preserve the character of Boulder and its neighborhoods.

The 2009 election is less than a month away, and a host of improvements have been rolled out in the Boulder County clerk and recorder's office to address glitches encountered in last year's general election.

Last year, people flocked to the polls. This year, many won't even take time to fill out their mail-in ballot. While it's true that last year we were deciding on a leader for our country, who leads our cities is no less important. It's on the local level that citizens arguably have the greatest influence.