I SAW MY FIRST Ventura Council campaign sign today and it is only the first of August. This is annoying to me in the way that finding winter holiday decorations in department stores before Halloween always is. Venturans have traditionally been obsessive about placing signs in every square foot of public space around election cycles. But never have I seen anything go up this early.

By November I expect the visual pollution to be out of control with 16 council candidates and three ballot measures cluttering our political landscape. Early signage does not win votes at my house. If you excessively pollute my visual space, expect a thumbs down from me. Most studies show campaign signs don't have much effect on voters.

While I see a few familiar names in the mix and the four incumbents, of course, what always amazes me are the candidates who have not been active participants in city projects, committees, commissions, meetings and charettes. Our local government urgently needs volunteers, especially in these days of reduced staff due to budget cutbacks.

It's just the same handful of us traveling from event to event. In addition to the Cultural Affairs Commission, I've joined the Visitor's and Convention Bureau Board and recently agreed to serve on the Library Plan Steering Committee. This is in addition to the numerous other boards I sit on.

THE TRUTH IS, the city needs good volunteers a lot more than it needs 16 City Council candidates and while volunteering doesn't put your name in lights quite like running for office does, it is far more fulfilling.

Becoming a city volunteer is an excellent way to learn about how your local government works. In an era when cities everywhere are faced with tough decisions with myriad implications, I don't want somebody on the City Council who has to play catch-up. Governing a city is no small task and if you haven't read the General Plan, gone through the Capital Improvement Project Plan and can't explain the term "triple flip" or how SB 375 will impact the planning of civic projects in the future, you won't have my vote.

If you don't have the time to wade through inches-thick staff reports every week, answer 100 emails and dozens of phone calls daily, attend ribbon cuttings, mixers and endless outside meetings all for $600 a month, don't bother.

If you are interested in making an impact at the local level, consider volunteering first. You won't regret it.