In less than 10 weeks, voters in Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park and Westlake Village will decide (among other things) who will represent us on the Thousand Oaks City Council.

To that end, we also begin today our profiles of the candidates.

We hope to interview all nine so each of them can explain why he or she deserves a seat on our city council.

People who serve in city government sometimes have greater direct impact on people's lives than politicians who serve on the state or even national level. Many Americans get excited about who serves in the White House, but they're apathetic about who serves in city hall.

It is local officeholders, however, who determine important aspects of your life, including the service levels of police and fire protection.

While almost every American is concerned about the environment, it is local land-use issues that directly affect our lives. Saving giant sequoias is important but you're more likely to miss a heritage oak that's cut down just up the street than a redwood that's 250 miles away.

Noise pollution at LAX is almost irrelevant if your neighbor's barking dog keeps you awake at night.

A state legislator couldn't care less about a traffic light that stays red for too long, but a city council member may listen. If your neighbor wants to build a second story that will destroy your view of the sunset, the president won't help, but a council member can.

Readers can stay informed by reading our profiles in the Thousand Oaks Acorn or by attending one of the upcoming public forums. We'll let you know about these forums as soon as we find out. You can also, of course, refer to campaign ads and mailers as sources of information.

Most importantly, if you aren't registered to vote, please do so. The paperwork is available at any library or fire station and at city hall.