I have just returned to our city following a two-week holiday. I note the "hustings" on the No or Yes postal vote for the mayor are well under way (Letters, August 25). Please may I give my opinion too.

If you start from the premise that politicians generally are scornfully regarded by the electorate, perhaps now is the time for change.

The recent General Election produced an approximate turnout of some 55 per cent in our three local constituencies. Local elections produce about a 35 per cent turnout.

We don't yet know whether a postal vote, as opposed to our traditional electoral system, will improve on the 35 per cent figure.

Although I have been a trade unionist for 45 years, am a Brightonian born and bred and have remained in Brighton all my life, I am going for the Yes position.

People such as Simon Fanshawe, as a former "face" during the Place To Be campaign, have much credibility (though he hasn't said he will stand as a candidate yet).

As a Salvationist at Brighton Congress Hall for 60 years, I find Jenny Langston's candidature, as a born-again Christian, interesting too.

I have always had much admiration for Gavin Henderson. Every corpuscle in his body proclaims "Brighton and Hove".

Who knows what will happen. I'll accept and support who is eventually elected. That's democracy. Surely we all want the best for our city.

-Keith Salvage, Dudley Road, Brighton