Finding budget efficiencies and extra cash are undeniable priorities for public officials in the city of Ypsilanti. Residents, particularly those who've rallied to find ways to support recreation, know that well. As do city employees and administrators who have been forced to operate with smaller staffs and fewer resources.

So those seeking public office offer no surprises when they promise to tackle finances. The key to finding solutions is leadership that constructively engages a wide body of people.

Required is a leader who can work with constituents, with the city administration, with city employees and neighboring communities to build consensus on hurdling the financial challenges. Required is a leader with knowledge and experience not only of city government but of the people who live and work in the community. Required is a leader who has a vision for change and an understanding of what must remain.

MAYOR
Without a Republican candidate in the race and barring minor party or write-in entries, the Aug. 8 primary will determine the city's next mayor. All three Democrat candidates exhibit some of the required skills, but Paul Schreiber offers the strongest and best mix of them all.

Businessman Steve Pierce offers a keen financial acumen, but is a micro-manager. We fear he lacks the interpersonal skills to lead the city through these tough times. It should be noted that The News was the defendant in a libel suit filed by Pierce, and that the dispute was settled. That issue aside, Pierce offers interesting, even innovative options for leading the city, but his opponents offer a greater depth of community and local government experience.

City Council Member Lois Richardson, who calls her hometown city "the best-kept secret in southeast Michigan'' offers a wealth of experience as a resident and council member. She has been a consistent and steady member of the team leading the city, and has taken positions important to Ypsilanti's future, including denying a rezoning that would have allowed a self-storage company to occupy land designed for retail. Richardson had the courage to say no to the short-term financial gain in favor of a long-term vision. Her stance is indicative of her potential. However, she has not always been as fully engaged in finding innovative solutions to the city's problems, and we fear that might continue as mayor.

Richardson, like Schreiber, also offers the advantage of living many years in Ypsilanti. Spending so much time among the people of Ypsilanti is an asset that cannot be overlooked when choosing a community leader.

Schreiber, an electronic design engineer, offers a greater depth and breadth of city and community experience, from his role as a soccer coach to his years on the Ypsilanti Housing Commission. He sees himself as a consensus builder, and seeks innovative solutions. He believes the city can balance the budget and maintain services by leveraging key assets, from the city's diverse population to its parks, scenic areas and location.

That's why we see Schreiber as the best option for guiding Ypsilanti's future.

WARD 1
Incumbent Council Member Trudy Swanson is facing two challengers, Juanita House and David Kircher. Both House and Kircher have focused their campaigns on the need for change.

House, a social worker, said the council has failed to fulfill its first priority, that of serving the residents.

Kircher, a retired engineer and electrician and commercial property owner, said the council has made a series of bad decisions, including starting the Water Street project, a downtown mixed-use development under way along Michigan Avenue.

Swanson, who has served three terms on the council, has demonstrated candid leadership in her role as mayor pro tem, and in her defense of the interests of low-income residents. Hers is a voice the council needs. For that reason, we endorse Swanson for re-election.

WARD 2
Council Member Bill Nickels is facing a Democratic challenge from John Bailey.

A retired chemistry teacher, Nickels has served on the council for two terms. He sees budgeting issues and Water Street as the biggest problems, but believes the city is on the right track to tackle both. That work includes maintaining zoning, building and fire code enforcement while making the city more attractive through its dual Downtown Development Authorities, in Depot Town and in downtown.

Bailey, a lawyer and member of the city's zoning board of appeals, also wants to make the city more appealing, but thinks there have been too many mistakes with Water Street. He wants to lower property taxes and believes the city should be more open to the public.

While there have been missteps with the Water Street project, they alone are not the cause of the city's financial crisis. The difficulties the city is experiencing have more to do with external influences than poor decisions by the council, or a lack of transparency. Guiding the city through tough times will require knowledge of those external influences as well as the internal problems. Nickels has experience in both areas and so we endorse him for re-election.

WARD 3
Two newcomers are seeking to fill the spot vacated by Council Member Barry LaRue, who is not seeking re-election.

Rod Johnson is a retail wine salesman and consultant. Brian Robb is a product design engineer for Ford Motor Co. Both offer the promise of new ideas for city leadership.

Johnson believes that nurturing neighborhoods is as important as tackling the financial issues. Robb offers experience in managing multimillion-dollar budgets for special projects and wants to steer Water Street in a better direction.

Johnson, chairman of the city's planning commission, offers a greater depth of experience, from his role on the commission to his service as vice president of the historic Eastside Neighborhood and on the city's Community Police Action Council. Johnson also expresses an eagerness to be open-minded and innovative about finding solutions that work best for city residents. Because of his experience and independent thought, we endorse Johnson for the Ward 3 seat.