Our view: Incumbents' experience helping city resurgence provides slight edge over promising challengers

Vista voters should re-elect incumbents Judy Ritter and Bob Campbell to the City Council.

Both are doing well in their jobs, both add valuable insight and expertise to the generally sensible Vista council, and both ably represent their city on regional planning committees.

Campbell and Ritter are also strong proponents of the city's Proposition L, the half-cent sales tax hike that Vista residents should pass Nov. 7. The incumbents are backing the new tax to pay for sorely needed city amenities such as two fire stations, ball fields, a new city hall and a renovated Moonlight Amphitheatre.

Campbell's record of service to the city is admirable. As the city's economic developer under then-city manager, now Mayor Morris Vance, Campbell lured many businesses and the new San Diego County courthouse to Vista. His business acumen is a vital asset to a city hoping to build on a promising downtown momentum. As a North County Transit District board member, Campbell is lobbying for sound walls along the Sprinter light rail line that would make many Vista residents sleep more soundly.

Ritter is a longtime Vista business owner whose diverse careers and numerous connections help keep her finger on Vista's pulse. Along with Campbell, she has been a consistent champion in confronting North County's homeless problem. Ritter is also the city's representative on the San Diego Association of Governments' board.

But these incumbents are up against some excellent challengers. Nick Ashcraft came close to winning election in November 2004, and he comes close to winning our endorsement, as well. If we or Vista residents had reason to unseat the incumbents, Ashcraft, a longtime planning commissioner, would be a fine replacement. His fiscal conservatism would be welcome on any North County city council.

Similarly, community activist Tina Jillings has impressed many with her moderated message of building bridges between the city's large Latino population, the Sheriff's Department and the city.

A snapshot of the vital perspective Jillings can offer: Her recent firsthand account of being stopped for "driving while brown" through a Sheriff's Department driver's license checkpoint reminds us all of the corrosive effects of heavy-handed policing. The death Saturday of another unarmed Latino man in Vista shot by sheriff's deputies makes Jillings' perspective all the more necessary for a fractured city.

With more experience in civic affairs, Jillings could grow into a very promising candidate in upcoming elections.

But this election should return Ritter and Campbell to the seats they now hold. Vista's on the rebound, and these two leaders are part of the reason why.