By This year's field of Los Altos City Council candidates - eight vying for three seats - gives us cause for optimism about residents' interest in their local government.

We appreciate the involvement this time around, especially considering two years ago, two incumbents kept their seats without any challengers.

Of the eight candidates, six are serious contenders who have solid credentials and have made strong efforts to get elected. We are confident any of the six, Jeannice Samani, Valorie Carpenter, Curtis Cole, David Casas, Ron Packard and incumbent Francis La Poll, would do a fine job if elected.

However, we are endorsing Cole, Casas and Packard for the three open seats. The three have the most prior local government experience while offering the best opportunity for fresh ideas. We need a better balance, a new majority on council to get things done - hopefully avoiding the costly lawsuits that have plagued the city the past few years. We believe a new majority can end the stalemate with issues like the Rosita pool and the hotel proposal for downtown.

Cole, 44, has spent the past five years on the planning commission, making sometimes tough decisions on applications in which he has weighed resident and business interests against city regulations.

Cole, an engineer and software manager, is thoughtful, objective and bright - qualities we love to see in a councilmember.

Casas, 39, also has shown passion for his community, involved as a board member in the Los Altos School District and as a commissioner with the Los Altos Arts, Parks and Recreation Commission.

The finance manager with Johnson & Johnson experience would come in handy as the council wrestles with budget challenges in the coming years.

Packard, 54, has been a councilman and mayor in Mountain View, and has participated in the Los Altos Citizen’s Financial Advisory Committee.

Like Casas, Packard is focused on a city budget in the black. He lists among goals working with residents to better mitigate city traffic.

All three say they are committed to preserving downtown’s charm and neighborhood character and to keep the Los Altos business community growing.

It is up to us to help these three specify and shape these goals when and if they are elected to council.

Now is a time for fresh candidates with new approaches to take a turn at bringing progress to our city.

We think Cole, Casas and Packard are the best choices for continuing that progress.