As we prepare to wrap up what is expected to be a record low-turnout election, here’s a little food for thought: In the last decade, 28 of Los Angeles County's 88 cities have canceled elections for city council or mayor at least once — because no one bothered making a challenge.
How’s that for representative democracy?
California law gives city councils a choice to forego the election completely, allowing incumbents and appointed replacements to be sworn into a new elected term without voters seeing candidates' names on their ballot.
Many of the cities that have canceled elections are in the South Bay, southeast Los Angeles County, and the San Gabriel Valley. They include cities both affluent and modest, from San Marino and Palos Verdes Estates to Cudahy and Paramount. Supporters of canceled elections say the move saves money.
The city with the most canceled elections in the last decade is the City of Industry. Industry has canceled all five elections in the last 10 years — and actually, hasn't had an election with the name of a City Council candidate on the ballot since 1998.