Illustration by Josh Hagler

Following local politics is simply not as easy as following national politics. Especially in the last few months, it's been hard to turn on the TV without seeing the images of Sept. 11 replayed over and over while our president promises retaliation. But how can many of us gather up the image of Tucson's mayor in our mind's eye? Nevertheless, the City Council plays a large role in government, and many of the rules and regulations that govern our daily lives are products of City Council discussions.

That's why it's important to know who Fred Ronstadt and Gayle Hartmann are. He's the councilman for Ward 6, which encompasses the university, and he's attempting to attain re-election to a second term tomorrow. His first term was ear-marked by staunch conservatism and kudos for his special interests.

You might recognize the name. His first cousin is Linda Ronstadt, the rock 'n' roller. She and Fred don't have a lot in common. This is because Fred Ronstadt is one of the most conservative men his party has seen in a long time. In his experience on the City Council, he's overseen countless proposals to cut funding for government programs, blocked any gun restrictions and fought for the right to smoke anywhere one damn well pleases. He sat through a meeting where waiters and waitresses testified that their health was at risk because of the work conditions they were stuck in. Ronstadt was un-phased. He voted against the smoking ban.

He's also voted in favor of many fine resolutions. Remember the resolution passed that removed all newspaper sellers from the city's street corners? He was definitely for that one. Since he voted them out of a job, one can only wonder how hard he's worked to find new jobs for those individuals, even though that's exactly what the Council promised to do. Think that a simple background check on firearms sold at our TCC gun shows are a good idea? Ronstadt doesn't agree. But the latest blow has been the hardest to bear. He began his campaign for re-election with a rather generous contribution from the gun lobby in September. McMahon's Gun Show, put on at the Tucson Convention Center, felt Fred Ronstadt was just the man for its needs. The gun lobby counts on Ronstadt's continued loyal support.

Unfortunately, a city like Tucson has other needs. Still in grief over crimes like the Pizza Hut triple homicide and the early August murder of a young girl on her front porch returning from church, Tucson doesn't need a councilman with a love affair for the gun lobby. This is especially true because we know now that the Pizza Hut murders were committed with an illegally purchased hand-gun.

There is a solution. Her name is Gayle Hartmann, the opposing candidate for the Ward 6 Council seat. If you've been on the East Third Street bike path or anywhere in the Sam Hughes district in the last three months, then you're very familiar with her name. Many front yards are dotted with a yard sign with her name on it.

She is Ronstadt's antithesis.

Too often in elections, the voter is faced with choosing between two identical candidates. This is especially true on the national scene. Gore and Bush both stretched so far towards the moderate middle that they spent two hours agreeing with each other during the second debate.

Not so in the wild and wacky world of local politics. Gayle Hartmann, the Democrat for Ward 6 and Republican Fred Ronstadt, the incumbent, couldn't be more different.

Hartmann wants background checks at gun shows - Ronstadt does not. Hartmann supports funding for JobPath - Ronstadt does not. Hartmann wants to limit Eller Media to its current number of billboards - Ronstadt's campaign is funded by Eller Media.

Tomorrow is another chance to make change, to voice your needs, to fight for a better city. Skip a lecture, call in sick to work, do whatever it takes. It's time for Fred Ronstadt to bow out of the City Council to make room for a free thinker who's not a slave to special interests.

A vote for Fred Ronstadt is a vote for the gun lobby. But you don't have to take my word for it. McMahon's Gun Show doesn't care for Hartmann, and that's just how we like it.