Public anger over the cost and management of the Cape Coral utilities expansion project was not wasted rage.

Fueled by the controversial Michael Kessler audit report and by intensive media coverage, that outrage produced results. Even city officials who denied any wrongdoing and considered the audit and press coverage inaccurate and unfair surely must realize now that they were forced to do a better job. Bottom line: numerous changes in the project, including a $9,000 drop in assessments to individual property owners.

The city's credibility was shredded, which was the main reason for the crushing defeat this spring of a $110 million public safety building bond referendum. Citizens poured out their complaints at council meetings and in forums on news-press.com.

The voting booth is the next battleground. The fall municipal elections, with up to five of the eight council seats in the balance, could produce a very different city council, with new members schooled in protest and eager to challenge established ways of doing business. This is the week for candidates to qualify at the city clerk's office.

The critics may have gone overboard at times. After all, this project is an expensive and inevitably unpopular re-fit of a community developed on the cheap. Public discontent was also compounded by rising taxes and property insurance rates.

But the people were right. Something was wrong. They demanded change, and got it.

EDITORIAL