Before you read any further, I should point out to whom this is directed. If you are a registered voter in Los Angeles City Council District 4, THIS IS FOR YOU. If not, you may want to read on, you may be spurred to help Denise Robb's Quixotic campaign for a city council seat -- but you won't be able to vote for her on Tuesday. And it's the voters who should get off their collective duff, get to the voting booth, and put someone worth a damn in City Hall. That someone is Denise Munro Robb.

I have had the privilege of working with Denise as a volunteer for the LA Greens. I met her last year when I jumped in with both feet to work the Nader campaign. During that time, Denise amazed everyone with her indomitable spirit, her tireless dedication to spreading the word, her seemingly endless optimism and patience. She was the LA Greens' membership coordinator at the time, but it might be more accurate to say that she was the powerhouse at the center of that whirlwind, and most of us struggled to keep up with her. Someone like that is inspirational to others -- her example drove me, and hundreds of other volunteers, to give a little more, to try a little harder. That's a good thing.

I'm not here to give you a position paper on Denise Robb. If you want to know where she stands on the "issues," follow the link to her website that I've provided here and educate yourself. Check out the article in the LA Weekly. Check out the endorsements she got. Compare her to the other candidates and see what you think. As a voter, you owe it to yourself to do that.

What I am here to do is to let you know that electing Denise will matter, a hell of a lot, for the future of this city. And it IS possible.

This is a special election, and turnout is typically very low for special elections. Which means that every vote counts -- no, not like in Florida, these votes really will count. It won't take a lot of people to elect a very bright, compassionate, progressive (and funny -- never underestimate the value of a sense of humor) woman to our city's 4th district. But it will require your involvement.

If you're in the 4th District, please: get off your duff, put down that microbrew, turn off your computer and hit the ballot box.

I live in the 13th, so I couldn't vote for Denise if I wanted to. But you CAN. So please do. Election Day is Tuesday, September 11.

Thanks for your time.