To hear some tell it, the Mukilteo City Council is an arrogant group that rejects citizen input and need to be replaced. Others say current council members represent the views of most citizens, and things are going just fine, thank you.

Political discourse can be messy in most places, including Mukilteo. But the dire picture painted by some current challengers for council seats doesn’t seem to hold up. Overall, the three incumbents up for re-election on Nov. 4 — Eileen Hinds, Bruce Richter and Bruce Brown — are doing a good job and should be retained. In the race for the open Position 7, Jennifer Gregerson would bring a bright, positive voice to the council.

The future of the Rosehill Community Center building has been a volatile issue, and drew some of the challengers into the race. But much more pressing issues face the council, most concerning how the city will grow and accommodate commuter traffic while retaining its treasured, seaside character.

On some issues, the candidates generally agree. All, for example, say that the city’s waterfront should be developed with natural touches rather than being turned into a parking lot. They also agree on the need for the EMS levy that will appear on the Nov. 4 ballot, an issue we continue to support.

Hinds, running for a third term, is a level-headed representative with a solid grounding in growth and transportation issues and a long history of volunteer work in the city. She is being challenged by Tony Tinsley, a retired college professor who moved to Mukilteo last year. He says current council members are making poor decisions because they don’t spend enough time investigating issues themselves. We don’t see evidence that Hinds has come up short in this regard.

Richter, running for his fourth term, brings important historical perspective to the council. He knows how bad the city’s financial situation was years ago, and was part of the solution. He retains the desire and energy to serve well. His opponent, Julie Irwin, is a bright, passionate candidate who has worked hard to get up to speed on city issues. We encourage her to remain involved politically if she doesn’t win this race.

Brown, an officer in the Mukilteo Historical Society, is seeking a second term. His accounting background makes him a fiscal asset, and he brings a practical approach to problem-solving. His challenger, Donna Lansberry, is a strong advocate of preserving the Rosehill building as a community center and says the current council isn’t open enough to citizen input.

Gregerson, a Kamiak High School and New York University graduate, has been an active volunteer, working on committees backing the EMS levy and selecting the Mukilteo School District’s superintendent. In both cases, and at council meetings, she has shown a willingness to do extensive research and bring well-reasoned views to the table. Her opponent, planning commissioner Dan Gray, is a knowledgeable, capable candidate who would serve well. Gregerson’s bright potential gives her our nod.