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thumb up FINALLY, A DECISION. We have expressed our reservations — not so much with the man but with the duel role he will play, and the problems inherent with having a politician president — but now it’s time to move on, and for Luna Community College to go forward with its new president, state Sen. Pete Campos.He will fill out his contract as superintendent of the Las Vegas City Schools district, which expires June 30, and start the job in July. Hopefully, interim president Sigfredo Maestas will continue until then, and that Campos will usher in a new era of openness, professionalism and sound leadership at Luna. The responsibility will be great and we wish him the best.

thumb down CAN HE OR CAN’T HE? Harry Montoya came into Las Vegas the other day and presented himself as a sound candidate for the Third Congressional District seat being vacated by Tom Udall. Only problem is, he may not be able to get on the Democratic Party ballot. State law requires that he get the support of 20 percent of the party’s delegates to support him in a pre-primary before the June primary.Please don’t misunderstand us here, the Optic’s editorial board is not endorsing his candidacy — that decision is for down the road. We’re just saying he should be able to petition the voters for placement on the ballot, as was done in the past. We agree with Montoya that this law “takes democracy out of democracy.”

thumb up GOOD DECISIONS. Two board members of the Las Vegas-San Miguel Economic Development Corporation wisely decided to take leaves of absence until after the March 4 municipal election. Former mayoral candidate Matt Martinez and City Council member Diane Moore will step aside for the next six or so weeks.The EDC’s contract with the city prohibits board members from actively supporting candidates. Martinez isn’t running for anything but he says he’s going to be politically active, and Moore is seeking re-election, albeit unopposed. Their decisions are well-advised — and evidence that the EDC has learned from the past.

thumb down RESIGNATION. City Councilman Louie Trujillo resigned last week at chairman of the Keep Las Vegas Beautiful Committee, saying the mayor and council haven’t been taking beautification issues seriously enough. Trujillo has for years been a champion of this cause and his resignation is a big loss to a worthwhile effort.

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AND WE QUOTE

“I think it would be a good deal for the city. I don’t understand why the city is ignoring them.”— Las Vegas Community Water Board president Andrew Feldman on rancher Alexander Milliken’s proposal to sell the city his five wells southwest of town.