Dear editor,

I recently sent this e-mail to both Steve Westly and Phil Angelides:

What a disappointment.

I was looking forward to voting for a competent, value-filled platform for the weakening democratic party. What I found were two little disgruntled boys in the mud. I wanted answers and you gave me self-serving trash. You make Arnold Schwarzenegger look like a godsend.

I am an absentee voter that sends their ballot in early. What you say in the next week is a wasted moment. In addition, I know that the ranks of absentee voters in California has been on a steady rise for five to 10 years. Who is your campaign manager? Where were they when you couldn't stop talking trash when the absentee voters were making their decisions? And when exactly were you going to get out of the "bickering" phase and into the "Democratic platform" phase?

Too bad -- I'm voting Republican this year for the first time in my life and I'm 50. He can't do too much more damage ...

Mary Pisor

Napa