The Democrats response to the huge loss at the City of Tucson council elections:

Either way, the message Democrats should take from the vote is that they must govern more competently. Most of all, they must show more results.

We didn’t buy into many claims that Republican candidates were making prior to the election about Democratic malfeasance. Many of the city’s problems, from poor street maintenance to the loss of a minor-league baseball team and possibly spring training, were either brought on by the bad economy or by forces beyond the council’s control.

However, the fact remains that Rio Nuevo, the city’s downtown-redevelopment project, has been slow to take shape and businesses still have trouble getting required city approvals and permits.

These problems aren’t insurmountable. For instance, the city’s overly complicated land-use code can be streamlined through aggressive, persistent leadership on the part of the council.

Uhlich understands the code’s shortcomings and we expect her to lead its overhaul. Similarly, Trasoff or Kozachik should make revamping the city’s Development Services Department their priority.

Uhlich and several other council members must redouble their efforts to help small businesses thrive.

The Democratic majority, which includes Regina Romero in Ward 1, Rodney Glassman in Ward 2 and Shirley Scott in Ward 4, must lead with a sense of urgency. The time is now to get things accomplished downtown and across the city.

If the council fails to show results, some voters in 2011 may be even angrier than they are now. And with nonpartisan elections possibly coming, the Democrats’ voter-registration advantage may be of little use.