toledoblade.com --

TOLEDO is currently facing a $7.8 million budget deficit that is supposed to be cleared by the end of the calendar year. There is every reason to believe that city revenues will not improve next year, while one-time federal stimulus money will disappear and union contract and overtime obligations that were put off this year will come due, resulting in a deficit in 2010 that some say will top $25 million.

While a new mayor will go a long way toward establishing a better working relationship with City Council than currently exists, it is imperative that council be made up of intelligent, dedicated people committed to both solving Toledo's short-range fiscal problems and identifying and working toward long-range goals.

Fortunately, voters on Tuesday will find six candidates who, together, combine youth with age and energy with experience, and share a willingness to working together to achieve the common good.

At the top of our list are two newcomers, Adam Martinez and Terry Biel, who make up half of the Hungry 4 Change coalition of four young men seeking three at-large council seats and a place on the Toledo school board. Mr. Martinez, 30, and Mr. Biel, 24, exemplify the best of Toledo's younger generation. They are bright, energetic, and dedicated to their city, and while they are endorsed Democrats - and two of the bright stars on the Democratic horizon - they are not the dogmatic politicians we have grown so tired of.

The force behind Hungry 4 Change is 32-year-old Joe McNamara, a first-term endorsed Democrat who has done a good job under very trying circumstances since being elected council president earlier this year. He has shown a willingness to work with anyone with good ideas on how to solve Toledo's budget woes. He has offered many proposals to trim the deficit, passing some while others were shot down by contrarians on council or stonewalled by an obdurate mayor. He has earned a chance to work with a more amenable mayor and council on solving Toledo's pressing problems.

To balance and complement the youth of these three, we recommend two incumbents, George Sarantou and Steven Steel, and a former city councilman, Rob Ludeman.

Mr. Sarantou, a two-term Republican, has shown a willingness to work with others to achieve nonpartisan goals. A realist and a pragmatist, he commands a detailed knowledge of Toledo's budget and has shown a cool head when some on council seem to have lost their way.

In like manner, Mr. Ludeman, a Republican, was a steadying influence when he served on City Council from 1994 to 2007 before having to step down because of term limits. He will bring common sense to a group that sometimes seems lacking in sense of any kind.

Mr. Steel, a Democrat appointed to council only in July, made an immediate impact, using his budgetary experience from his time on the school board to advance several ideas on how to enhance revenues or cut costs. We were impressed with his ability to hit the road running and expect great things from him in a full term.

These uncommonly diverse and talented candidates have the attributes needed to help lead Toledo out of what has become a serious economic and political mess.

On election day, vote for Joe McNamara, George Sarantou, Steven Steel, Rob Ludeman, Adam Martinez, and Terry Biel for Toledo City Council.