Your autograph could have been more important than any film star's during the last few days.

It cannot have escaped your notice there has been a referendum to decide whether Brighton and Hove should have an elected mayor in charge of the city, or continue with the current committee system, which includes a civic mayor chosen by fellow councillors.

As a retired councillor that seems to me to be a sound way of choosing a civic leader.

You get to know the strengths and weaknesses of your fellow councillors and Brighton and Hove has been blessed with some outstanding mayors over the years.

There were also a few who did less honour to the town but they were in a minority.

My quarrel with the present situation is that we are apparently being asked to vote for some unknown person who will reveal themselves once we have decided whether we want an elected mayor.

I can visualise a situation where I may vote No to an elected mayor because I obviously don't know enough about them to come to a decision.

On the other hand, if the right candidate were to present themselves I might be persuaded to come down in favour of the new system. The trouble is, at the moment I have no idea if I am voting for a pig in a poke, if the potential candidates will forgive the description.

At least in council and parliamentary elections you know who you are being asked to vote for.

I realise if the vote supports an elected mayor the candidates will have to declare themselves but if they all turn out to be the sort of people you would not vote for under any circumstances, let alone to run the city, you may be stuck with a total waste of space for four years.

One thing I do hope is everyone eligible to vote has done so, otherwise we will be stuck with a minority decision and all the discontent that will entail.

It will be a massive cultural change if the vote says Yes and, if so, I hope there are strong candidates waiting in the wings.

The wrong one could do much damage to the new city, for which so many fought so hard.

I hope very much that you also signed another important piece of paper - the campaign to save cancer services at the Royal Sussex County Hospital from being sent to Haywards Heath.

There is a very real need for a strong fight against the move. I hope if you belong to a club or similar organisation you persuaded them to collect signatures on the form in The Argus.

The gym I belong to has already sent off more than a page of signatures.

Those of us who have had treatment in the radiotherapy department, or who have had to suffer the discomfort of chemotherapy, will tell you of the devoted service all the staff bring to the service.

A lot of money has been raised for the department under the wonderful encouragement of the surgeons and oncologists and a band of fund-raisers who have run a variety of functions.

All that effort will go for naught if we allow this crazy move to take place.

The Argus has a large and vocal readership and the paper is putting its strength behind the efforts to stop this move.

If you have missed the chance to sign a petition, find the time to write to your councillor, your MP, or anyone you feel might be able to influence events.

This is one fight you might be able to win. Go on! What are you waiting for?