POWAY -- Four candidates are running for Poway City Council, and at least one new member will be seated after the Nov. 4 election.

Wednesday was the deadline for candidates to return nomination papers in races where at least one incumbent is not seeking re-election. In Poway, Councilman Bob Emery is not seeking re-election for the first time since the city incorporated in 1980.

Councilwoman Merrilee Boyack is running for re-election, and Howard Collins, Jim Cunningham and Chuck Cross are also candidates in the race.

Cunningham, 51, an attorney who has lived in Poway 16 years, has been endorsed by Emery, Poway Mayor Mickey Cafagna and Councilman Don Higginson.

"In essence, the only reason the mayor and the majority of the City Council is endorsing me is they're confident I'll carry on the tradition of Poway since the incorporation over 28 years ago," Cunningham said.

He said he wants to keep Poway on the right path and is afraid a shift in the council could lead the city in the wrong direction.

The city's 2007-08 budget included Poway's first deficit, and Cunningham said a new council has to take care in what it will trim to balance the books.

"In tough budgetary times, you really want to have a leader who makes the right choices," he said. "A lot of people who are not used to working with budgets, they look at the most expensive line item and start budgeting from there, and all of those expensive line items are public safety."

Cafagna and Higginson are not seeking re-election when their terms expire in two years, which Cunningham said makes this year's election that much more important.

"If you had the wrong people in there, it would be a short period of time before the wrong decisions were made," he said.

Cunningham's father and grandfather were both firefighters in his home town of New York City, and since becoming an attorney in 1987 he has focused on labor issues involving public safety. He has been endorsed by the Poway Firefighter's Association and San Diego County Deputy Sheriffs' Association.

"I think they believe I have a good handle on the issues involving public safety and they're confident I'm committed to keep Poway the lowest crime rate in the whole county," Cunningham said about the endorsements.

Like Cunningham, Collins and Cross are stressing maintaining Poway's character in their campaigns.

In a statement on his Web site, www.BePowayProud.com, Collins also cited preserving Poway as a motivating factor in his run for City Council.

"During the past several years I have listened to Powegians talk about the qualities they want in a council member," he wrote. "They want someone who is mindful of the Poway of the past and works purposefully to maintain the current Poway we have, and works with others to build the future Poway."

Collins also cited quality of life, excellent public schools and outstanding public safety as things that make Poway residents proud.

The 18-year Poway resident and Vietnam veteran has worked in the insurance business since graduating from college and has served on several local groups, including the Poway Business Park Association, Safety Wellness Advisory Community Coalition, the Boys & Girls Club of Greater San Diego, the San Diego Workforce Partnership, Mothers Against Drunk Driving Advisory Council for San Diego County and the President's University Council at California State University, San Marcos.

In 2007, Collins earned the Bank of America Local Hero Award. In 2006, he was a KSWB Unsung Hero nominee, a MADD Outstanding Community Leader, a Boy & Girls Club Board Member of the Year and the Poway Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year.

Cross said he is running because he also wants to maintain the quality of life in his city.

"I'm running for council because I've been real happy with who we've had on before, but Bob Emery is retiring," he said.

Cross complimented the other candidates in the race, and said it is a strong field of committed citizens.

"There's nothing bad to say," he said. "They're good people. We like the city the way it is. It's a very, very special place. I'd like to help keep it that way."

Cross, 56, wrote about the need for fiscal responsibility and public safety in his Web site, www.ChuckCross.com.

The 24-year city resident and Coast Guard veteran probably is best known locally for his volunteer work with the Poway Midland Railroad, where he has logged more than 5,000 hours of volunteer service since 1992, and where he kicked off his campaign on Flag Day this year. Cross also volunteered for 12 years with the Poway Youth Sports Association and served eight years on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, where projects in his time included Arbolitos Park, Aubrey Park, Dog Park and Skateboard Park.

Cross also served on the Poway Budget Review Committee from 1991 to 1994 and again in 1999 and 2007.

"In these difficult times, we have to watch what we spend," Cross said when announcing his candidacy in June.

Cross also said he would focus on wildfire disaster preparedness and promote green decisions in city government to preserve resources.

He also said he would maintain close contact with residents through his Web site, where people could send him concerns and complaints.

Contact staff writer Gary Warth at (760) 740-5410 or gwarth@nctimes.com.