With the special election to recall Gov. Gray Davis resembling a bad vaudeville act, voters may be tempted to dismiss it as nothing more than political entertainment. Predictably, East Coast TV pundits have lost no time scoffing at California as a parody of political absurdity.

Yes, democracy can be a messy, sometimes even amusing, affair. But the reality is that the California electorate now faces two historically crucial decisions – whether to yank an unpopular governor from office and, if so, to also choose his successor.

This tumult comes at a moment when voters are in simmering revolt against a dysfunctional government in Sacramento. At stake in their decisions on Oct. 7 are not only the careers of some veteran politicians, but also the state's very future.

That's why California deserves a serious campaign waged on serious issues. The state's problems won't be solved by clever, multimillion-dollar television spots or Hollywood glitz and glamour. In the mercifully brief two-month contest ahead, the crowded troupe of candidates has an obligation to offer specific solutions and detailed policy proposals. Even more important, voters have a responsibility to take the electoral process seriously and make their voices heard on election day.

If nothing else, Arnold Schwarzenegger's unexpected entry into the race should invigorate legions of apathetic voters who otherwise might ignore a special election. Sophisticates who scorn the actor as a mere political neophyte underestimate his potential appeal to millions of disaffected Californians searching for a Terminator-like outsider to take on the failed establishment in Sacramento.

Schwarzenegger's announcement of his candidacy on late-night TV was tacky. Yet he demonstrated nevertheless a surprising capacity to seize the political stage and get his message out to maximum effect. With Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, sensibly pulling out of the race, the GOP field may be dominated by Schwarzenegger. The question he now must answer is: What solutions does he have to offer?

Davis' prospects of hanging on to his job have been diminished by Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante's sudden candidacy. The governor is counting heavily on Latino voters to oppose his recall. But with the state's most prominent Latino elected official on the ballot, many Latino voters may reject Davis for one of their own, especially one who campaigns against Davis' unpopular tripling of the car tax, as Bustamante did yesterday. Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi's entry into the race only further splinters the Democratic vote and underscores the lack of confidence Davis must overcome among leaders of his own party.

There are likely to be more surprises to come in the recall campaign. But this election is much more than political theater. Voters – and the candidates – must give it the respectful attention it deserves.