UPHOLDING democracy in East Java is expensive and protracted. The gubernatorial election which started last July has not ended despite all the money, energy, time and emotion spent by supporters of the candidates. Several important issues that needed attention were put on hold, pending the election of a new governor.

There were five candidate teams in the first round of the elections last July. Of these, the Khofifah Indar Parawansa-Mudjiono tea