It's not as if the ruling came as a surprise last week. When U.S. District Judge Dan Polster struck down the contribution limits approved in an Akron charter amendment last year, all but two of the provisions backed by Dollars and Democracy had been left in the dust.

Even candidates who violate the remaining provisions -- deadlines for campaign-finance reports and listing the primary employer of donors of more than $50 -- cannot be punished because Polster earlier had struck down the amendment's criminal penalties.

Most disheartening about all the time in court is that it has been largely unnecessary. Once it was clear that there was momentum for campaign-finance reform in Akron, and equally clear that the then-proposed charter amendment would have difficulty meeting constitutional muster, the people from Dollars and Democracy could have declared victory and sat down to craft something sound and effective.

They had the opportunity. Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic put together a task force, made up of thoughtful and informed community leaders. The task force, led by Richard Aynes, dean of the University of Akron Law School, brought forth several recommendations that could have provided a foundation for discussion and debate.

Instead, Dollars and Democracy folks rejected outright the task force's work. Voters passed the amendment, which was almost immediately challenged in court. Polster even directed the sides to negotiate. That effort failed as well. The result? A year after the election, Akron has a gaping hole in its charter.

The issue isn't whether Akron would benefit from campaign-finance reform, although local problems pale in comparison to those on the state and federal level. The argument is how best to do it.

A ruling is expected soon from the U.S. Supreme Court in the Nixon vs. Shrink Missouri Government case, on whether contribution limits are unconstitutional restrictions of free speech. That ruling may provide valuable guidance as Akron crafts its own campaign-reform law.

As it is, the task force plan offers much promise. It makes little sense for either side to waste more time on demagoguery. It's time to get to work.