City's election is upon us
While the rest of the country must wait almost two years before the next big election, and suffer through gobs of pre-election posturing, Calabasas citizens get to go to the polls in less than three weeks. The action is just around the corner.

Citizens are not voting for president of the United States, but for two members to the Calabasas City Council. Don't snicker, this election is very important. Democracy begins at the local level, as every young person is taught.

Leading up to the election- starting with tonight- several groups will be hosting community forums in which the voters have a chance to meet the candidates and hear their ideas.

Incumbents Dennis Washburn and Barry Groveman are up for reelection and both are running. Washburn is the city's founding father, elder statesman and four-time mayor. His credentials have proven unbeatable since he took office in 1991.

Groveman took the council by storm in 2003 and helped bring about a major change in the way the city handles finances, traffic issues and decorum at council meetings. He, too, is a strong favorite.

One of the challengers is no stranger to the frenzied politics of Calabasas. Toby Keeler served on the city's first planning commission 15 years ago, touting himself as a protector of the environment and a counterweight to the city's growing development. He ran for council in 1997 unsuccessfully, but kept his support base alive and is expected to mount a strong challenge in the upcoming contest.

Dale Reicheneder is an attorney and nationally recognized long distance runner who's entering a different kind of race. Considered a long shot, Reicheneder could play the role of spoiler and affect the outcome of the election.

Competition is heating up.

Tonight's candidate forum is hosted by the Stone Creek Homeowners Association and begins at 7 p.m. at the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District Headquarters. On Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. the Greater Mulwood Homeowners Association will host a forum at Chaparral Elementary School, and on Feb. 26 the Calabasas Chamber of Commerce will close out the campaign season with a 7 p.m. forum at the Las Virgenes School District headquarters.

The deadline to register to vote is Mon., Feb. 19. The election is Tues., March 6.