Having just taken our state Legislature to task over incompetence, negligence and malfeasance, we must turn to our readers with a simple request.

Find the least worst miscreant in the bunch and vote for him or her.

There’s no presidential election this year, which means turnout will be low. But we are voting on city council races in Ventura, Santa Barbara and elsewhere. And there are plenty of ballot measures, including an important height-limit ordinance in Santa Barbara, and a half-cent sales tax increase, grocery store size limit and a building-height initiative in Ventura.

These elections are important because they represent the building blocks or road blocks to the future of commerce in our region. So, we urge you to cast your vote.

Mail ballots and early voting have begun. It’s up to you.