[Editor’s note: Corrections have been made to this editorial. Scroll to the bottom for details].

While political junkies in Washington, D.C. and Sacramento look to 2012 for a verdict on the Obama administration and California redistricting, two of the most hotly contested elections in recent history are taking place this November.

Eleven candidates, the most since 1991, are contesting four City Council seats in Ventura.

In Santa Barbara, seven are contesting three City Council seats and although it is supposed to be a non-partisan race, the local Democratic Party is backing a slate of three challengers.

Business owners are key stakeholders in these elections.

Our employees make up a large portion of the voting electorate, and we are a powerful force impacting the way campaigns are funded and the outcomes.

It’s no longer sufficient to sit idly, then complain loudly when anti-business upstarts get in and put the brakes on the free enterprise system.

Electing local officials who support entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship should be the business community’s goal.

[CORRECTION: A previous version of this editorial gave incorrect information. There are 11 candidates, not 16, contesting three seats in the Ventura City Council race. Incumbent Neal Andrews is not up for re-election in that race; his term expires in 2013.]