Contra Costa Times names Nicholas Arzio top pick for El Cerrito City Council, endorses Abelson for second seat with "serious reservations"

The Contra Costa Times has just named Nicholas Arzio as its top pick for El Cerrito City Council.

They also endorsed incumbent mayor, Janet Abelson, with “serious reservations.”

“Only one of three candidates running for El Cerrito City Council recognizes how deceitful city officials have been about the sales tax increase they have placed on the same Nov. 4 ballot,” writes The Times. “[N]either Abelson nor candidate Gabriel Quinto sees anything wrong with this.”

The Times concludes, “Arzio gets our endorsement for his pursuit of election integrity. Then we must choose between Abelson and Quinto for the second seat on the ballot.”

But that isn’t exactly right. We don’t have to choose between Abelson and Quinto for the second seat on the ballot. We have a third choice for the second seat on the ballot: no one.

If one really want Arzio to win—as The Times seems to want—it seems most prudent to cast one’s second vote for no one, rather than Abelson, because:

Since Abelson and Quinto are running as a slate, those who support Abelson are likely to support Quinto, and those who support Quinto are likely to support Abelson. If those who support Arzio also vote for Abelson, Abelson will likely get the most votes, while Arzio and Quinto will vie for second and third.

So casting one’s second vote for no one seems safer than casting it for Abelson, for those who support Arzio. Furthermore, even if Abelson does get the second seat, not voting for her sends her a message that her lack of transparency will no longer be tolerated.

See http://www.contracostatimes.com/my-town/ci_26740471/contra-costa-times-editorial-arzio-best-pick-el for The Times’s editorial on the candidates.