Roseville voters have the luxury of strong choices for the three City Council seats on their Nov. 6 ballot.

Two are incumbents, Carol Garcia and Mayor Pauline Roccucci, who have proven track records and merit four more years.

The third is Bonnie Gore, who has paid her dues and gained valuable knowledge in civic service. Now on the city's Transportation Commission, she also has been on its grants advisory, sustainability and centennial committees. Gore, whose day job is in government affairs for Kaiser Permanente, would hit the ground running.

Garcia, who was appointed in 2007 and elected in 2008, supported the city's aggressive moves on economic development after the recession and after the state killed redevelopment agencies. She is a senior vice president at Community 1st Bank with an impressive résumé of community involvement.

While Roccucci deserves re-election, there are reasons to be somewhat circumspect.

She has been the lone "no" vote on some key decisions recently – for instance approving a new citywide economic development strategy this year and hiring Ray Kerridge as city manager in 2010. It can be good for an elected body to have at least one member challenge the majority. Yet, when Roccucci goes her own way, she needs to more clearly tell her colleagues and the public why.

Also, some in Roseville think the time may be at hand to lower the curtain on the Roccucci dynasty, especially when there are qualified newcomers waiting in the wings. She served on the council from 1989 to 1998, moved to the Placer County Water Agency board and came back on the council in 2008 just as her husband, Richard, stepped down.

Pauline Roccucci, however, represents a constituency that is more cautious about growth and that should have a voice in city decisions.

The third incumbent whose seat is up, John Allard, is termed out.

Among the four other non-incumbents running, Scott Alvord is the most promising. He owns a downtown cafe, runs a small business consulting company and has served as president of Downtown Roseville Merchants.

While Democratic leaders and labor groups are lining up behind Alvord, and top Republicans and business groups behind Gore, partisan politics should be less a deciding factor for local office than qualifications. Gore is the better choice. She is more prepared and has a more regional outlook – something the Sacramento area badly needs.

The next City Council will have plenty on its plate. It has to make good on downtown revitalization after approving a three-year, $37 million package last year. It's still trying to attract a university campus. Like many other cities, it needs to get more serious about pensions and retiree health benefits.

By electing Garcia, Gore and Roccucci, voters can make sure a balanced and experienced council keeps Roseville on a prosperous course.

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