Tucsonans need to go to the polls tomorrow to vote for the next city council. Not simply because it's a privilege and duty of our democracy, but also because if we do, the overwhelming number of Democrats in Tucson will elect an honest and fair city council.

The current city council is a left-leaning governing body that has fought for a better quality of life for all of Tucson's communities. It banned smoking in restaurants. It restricted the location of big-box stores like Wal-Mart. It cut funding to the Boy Scouts of America for its policy of discriminating against homosexuals. And it passed a living-wage policy that makes companies that do business with the city pay their workers at least $8 an hour. All of these issues were worth the time and energy that the city council put into them. And now it is our turn to make sure that the agenda of this city council is extended and strengthened.

This election shouldn't be a challenge for Democrats. However, recent history has shown that the 3-2 ratio Democrats enjoy over Republicans in Tucson means little on election day.

In 1997, Republican Fred Ronstadt ran for the city council seat vacated by Democrat Molly McKasson. He shouldn't have had a chance. But because of his family name and poor campaign management by the Democrats, he won the election by two percentage points.

Since then, Ronstadt voted against the smoking ban, the living wage and fought Democrats who want background checks at gun shows. Tomorrow, Tucsonans have a chance to get rid of Fred "corporate errand-boy" Ronstadt, and elect a liberal, environmentally conscious city council member in Gayle Hartmann.

Gayle Hartmann is the preferred candidate over Ronstadt in Ward 6 because she understands what her constituents want. In direct contrast to Ronstadt, Hartmann is against the pressures of the growth lobby and is a veteran of Pima County's land use politics. Conversely, Ronstadt is supported by big business and has shown that he does not stand up for what is best for Tucson - but for what is best for business in Tucson.

Next door in Ward 3, a political struggle between Democrat Paula Aboud and Republican Kathleen Dunbar has produced many snide comments and nasty attacks. While Dunbar leans to the left on social matters, including animal rights, abortion rights and domestic violence legislation, she shows her true colors in her support of big business, including support of Eller Media's monopoly on billboards, her "no" vote for the living wage and her support of gun shows' right not to enforce background checks.

Paula Aboud is the preferred candidate in Ward 3 due to her grassroots approach to politics, her commitment to Tucson's neighborhoods and her continued struggle against sprawl.

On paper, this election is simple. There are 92,500 Democrats in Tucson, and only 58,500 Republicans. However, the elections of Ronstadt and Mayor Bob Walkup have proven that Tucson Democrats take for granted their majority in the city and don't get out and vote like their Republican counterparts. However, if Tucson does go and vote, Paula Aboud and Gayle Hartmann will take their place, along with Steve Leal, on a city council dedicated to growth management, a strong social agenda and honesty that is not obfuscated by special interest groups.