Future growth, affordable housing and financial uncertainty. Those elected to the Watsonville City Council will have a full plate of issues to deal with as the city decides how to handle its most contentious subjects.
Voters in three of the city's seven council districts will head to the polls Nov. 4 to make their council choices. We believe Manuel Bersamin, Luis Alejo and Edward Din are the best choices to represent their districts -- and the interests of Watsonville.
The current council has been working with residents to develop plans for growth, and the inherent traffic, water and city services issues that accompany expansion plans. Over the past few years the city also has developed a variety of housing projects to try to meet needs.
Carrying on these projects -- as well as dealing with a faltering economy -- requires thoughtful and knowledgeable leadership. In District 1, Manuel Bersamin has shown his dedication to solving neighborhood problems and working for affordable housing for his constituents. First appointed to the council in 2003, then elected to a full term in 2004, Bersamin has been a strong advocate for youth programs. Bersamin, who manages a student retention program at Hartnell College, is being challenged by businessman Gabriel Gonzalez, who ran unsuccessfully against Bersamin in 2004.
The other incumbent seeking re-election is District 6 Councilman Edward Din. We have found Din, who is a hospital administrator in San Jose, to be thoughtful and diligent in researching issues. Din, who was elected two years ago to fill a vacant seat, is seeking his first full term. His financial background also will serve the city well as it moves into an era of economic difficulty. Din is opposed by Tony Gomez, a PG&E equipment mechanic, and Emilio Martinez, a private investigator and business consultant.
District 2 incumbent Oscar Rios, a longtime fixture in Watsonville politics, did not seek re-election, opening the door to a new face on the council. Luis Alejo, a 1992 Watsonville High School graduate who earned a law degree at UC Davis and a master's degree at Harvard, has shown he is ready and able to meet the challenges of District 2. Alejo started a career in political organizing as a 19-year-old, helping to found the Watsonville Brown Berets as a counter to gang violence. He has served on numerous city committees and is a member of the Planning Commission. He is opposed by retired carpenter Joe Ortiz.
Our three choices, Bersamin, Din and Alejo, do not necessarily agree on all the issues facing the city, but we believe they are the right choices to represent their districts and the city.