Ventura is blessed with beaches, rivers, natural hillsides, a historic mission and, not least, solid leadership and several qualified City Council candidates on the Nov. 6 ballot.

The Star endorses incumbents Christy Weir and Bill Fulton and challenger Doug Halter.

That is no slight to Mayor Carl Morehouse, who is up for re-election, after ably serving on the council since 1999. Undoubtedly, Mr. Morehouse's planning expertise and experience on the council would continue to benefit the city, especially at the regional level, where he said he is interested in molding and promoting legislation that will affect the city.

However, the accomplished land-use planner had to be persuaded to run for a third term and this election — with three open seats, three incumbents in the running and six challengers — provides an opportunity voters should not pass up to elect a new councilman who will bring his undeniable dynamism to the council. Mr. Halter has devoted an extraordinary amount of time and energy to countless civic endeavors focused on one goal: improving and beautifying the city of Ventura.

Doug Halter

Mr. Halter, 47, has packed several lifetimes of service into his 23 years in Ventura, in positions of leadership that have had significant impact. Among them, board member and past president of the Ventura Music Festival, Ventura Parks and Recreation commissioner, former chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, member of the city budget task force, founder of The Laurel Theater, president of the AIDS Partnership of Ventura County, and much more. No surprise then that he was named Ventura Citizen of the Year in 2001.

That is in addition to running a successful landscaping business. He is the former owner of the downtown business Villa Tasca; renovated the 83-year-old church on Main Street that houses the Rubicon Theatre Co.; and won the Architectural Building of the Year award for new home design for a house he built in Ventura.

Mr. Halter's experiences as a volunteer, downtown merchant, business owner and builder have given him a front-row seat to the workings of Ventura government. He told The Star Editorial Board that he believes public safety is the city's first priority, but was opposed to last year's sales tax measure, which narrowly failed, to boost police and fire services. He said he did not think essential city services should be funded with a special tax. He said he would encourage economic vitality to fund needed services, adding that the city's unfriendly business climate is one reason the high-tech corridor is skipping Ventura.

There is another reason voters should consider voting for Mr. Halter. The incumbents up for re-election all endorse each other and may be a little too comfortable in their roles. With Mr. Halter, the council would continue to accomplish the ambitious goals it has set out, but would be bolstered by Mr. Halter's perspective and strength in listening, with an open mind, to constituents.

Christy Weir

Christy Weir, 54, a 22-year resident, has been an asset to the City Council since first being elected in 2003. She brings a strong environmental agenda to the council, advocating public access to the hillsides, which have recently been purchased; maintaining the beaches; and creating a Ventura River Parkway for the public to enjoy.

She has business sense, demonstrated most recently by her Oct. 8 vote with the majority of the council to shorten the city's development-approval process, a proposal that was opposed by Councilmen Morehouse, Fulton and Neal Andrews.

Her goals are straightforward, among them completing the Olivas Park Drive extension to attract larger retailers; renovating the north end of the mall; completing ball fields in Community Park; restoring school resource officers in schools, in partnership with the school district.

She emphasized her commitment to quality construction standards in the city, requiring parks, undergrounding of utilities, employing green-building techniques. One of her unique strengths, she brings to the council, is considering issues from the perspective of family, for example, how children will live in a proposed community.

Bill Fulton

Bill Fulton, 52, an urban planning analyst, has done an excellent job since being elected in 2003, helping to erase a $9 million city budget shortfall and passing an ambitious general plan in 2005.

He said he is proud of innovative plans to bolster economic development and develop work-force housing.

He wants to focus in his second term on having a significant portion of the hillsides open to the public. The hillsides have recently been purchased by a partnership that wants to build some estate homes and provide public access. He said he also wants to focus on the auto center, mall, downtown and enticing high-technology industries to the city.

With Mr. Fulton's expertise in planning, respect for government process and innovative thinking, he will continue to push the city forward.