The issue: These three candidates have the right stuff to lead Davis through the coming challenges

Davis faces myriad challenges in the coming years. The economic downturn and the stressed real estate market apply financial pressure on every level of government. Cities face special challenges as they figure out how to pay for skyrocketing medical and retirement benefits for their employees. Big land-use decisions loom as the community sets out to craft its General Plan update. A costly expansion of the city's wastewater treatment plant will soon be necessary, and major decisions must be made about future sources for our water supply.

These issues and more will define the next term of the Davis City Council; it's up to the voters to choose the right leaders to guide our community through these challenges. Davis will need council members who drive hard bargains with the city's labor unions, make fiscally sound decisions to live within our means, foster our local economy, push us toward environmental sustainability, stand firm against housing sprawl while allowing enough growth to bring young families back to Davis, and strengthen partnerships with UC Davis and other agencies in the region. Who can rise to these challenges? We support three candidates in the field of six: Don Saylor, Stephen Souza and Sydney Vergis.

SAYLOR frequently introduces himself as "your humble servant" when he attends public gatherings. Indeed, he is; there's no harder worker in local politics today. Saylor has thrived in his role as a Davis City Council member, and he has earned our support for another four years in office. Saylor does his homework, and then he follows through. He reaches out to gather lots of input, partly through his weekly "office hours" at coffeehouses around town. He truly listens to local residents who want to offer ideas, or express concerns. Then, he puts his ideas into action, working to forge compromises and come to consensus with his colleagues on where our community should be headed. Saylor makes government work for us. Four years ago, Saylor vowed to help repair frayed relations between the city and UC Davis, and to establish new regional partnerships. He's done that, and more. Saylor has made civility a hallmark of his tenure and pledges to continue nurturing civil public discourse.

Saylor can point with pride to a long record of public service, dating back to work as a city planner in Wyoming and Boston, as a fiscal analyst and land use planner with the state of California, and as a respected administrator with the California Youth Authority. Upon retirement, he threw his considerable energy full-force into his civic duties, and his hard work has made Davis a better place.

We will continue look to him for his effective leadership, critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, financial management background, attention to detail and civility. Saylor is definitely a keeper....