Saratoga needs serious, experienced council members to face those challenges. It's for that reason that the Saratoga News endorses Nick Streit, Kathleen King and Norman Kline in the 2002 Saratoga City Council race.

Streit, the city's current mayor, is a solid choice based on his four successful years of service on the city council. During his time of service, the council approved the purchase of the North Campus Facility—a decision that the mayor is especially proud of—and has worked to upgrade parks and improve traffic around schools and in neighborhoods.

Streit has demonstrated that families and neighborhoods come first, yet he takes a professional, open-minded approach to his leadership of the city.

Families are important to King, too. But along with that, she would also bring experience in management, marketing and multi-group collaboration to the city council. In recent years, she has worked in a leadership role in her effort to bring a children's hospital to the area.

Kline brings a wealth of experience to Saratoga after serving four years on the planning commission in the city of Santa Clara. His expertise could be very useful in a city facing a number of development and land-use issues in the years ahead.

Streit, King and Kline are running together on a "slate" in the 2002 council race. And while we endorse the three candidates, in no way do we endorse the concept of the slate. We find the slate offensive and believe that candidates in a city council election should run as individuals.

Opposing the three in the current race are Andrew Barnes, Shelley Williams and Neil Malhotra.

Barnes is running for council because he says he has the time and experience to serve. He probably has the time, but we question whether or not he has the experience for the position. Barnes seems to have the best of intentions in his desire to serve the community, but we would like to see him seek another direction in his commitment of service, thus gaining the experience he would need to make another run in 2004.

Williams' goal to maintain the character of Saratoga is an admirable one, but beyond that he seems to have little to provide the city as a member of the council. He was unprepared for questions about issues during candidate forums and interviews. While he may be very familiar with Saratoga's past, he has little to offer the city's future.

It's difficult to take a candidate seriously who campaigned from 3,000 miles away. That was Neil Malhotra.

The Southwest Santa Clara Valley League of Women Voters hosted a candidates' forum—Malhotra was a no-show. The Saratoga News held a candidates' endorsement meeting—no Malhotra.

He may have some fresh, new ideas and a have a "vision for Saratoga," as his ad states. But Saratogans cannot vote for a newspaper ad and a few campaign signs. Without the candidate here to answer questions from the public and debate his competitors, how do we really know where he stands on the issues? Actually, we do know where he stands—in New York.

The Saratoga News is recommending that voters support Nick Streit, Kathleen King and Norman Kline on Nov. 5—the individuals, not the slate.