Time for change in Rockville

However, we caution that assets can be liabilities and blessings can be curses if they are not managed judiciously and with the city’s best interests at heart.

As Rockville eyes sweeping zoning revisions, a burgeoning population and decisions on how to protect its neighborhoods at a time when the city is poised on the verge of becoming an urban enclave instead of a suburban haven, it is imperative that she move swiftly to salve the wounds caused by the divisions among the members of the council in order to accomplish what is best for all of Rockville, not just a few.

We are disappointed that Councilwoman Hoffmann’s top priority during this campaign is the environment. Although the environment is increasingly significant, we believe many other issues in Rockville are more important in the next two years.

We like political newcomer Mark Pierzchala and believe he brings deeper thinking on fiscal issues than the other candidates. For a relative novice, be brings a refreshing change in the level of detail and thinking he has offered during his campaign for office. Had he run for council, he would have been a most worthy candidate. But we believe he remains untested in the larger arena, despite his involvement in the College Gardens Civic Association.

In the race for council, the array of choices is the most diverse voters have seen in decades. Our top choice is John Britton, who has served on the city Planning Commission for five years and was part of the committee that authored the proposed citywide zoning revisions now before the council. A private practice attorney who seems to have a command of land-use and environment issues, we believe he will serve the city well as it decides how Rockville will look for the next generation. He is one of the most impressive candidates Rockville has seen in several terms.

We also endorse Piotr Gajewski, the founder and director of the National Philharmonic. Although he has no experience on city boards, commissions or homeowners associations, he has an impressive command of the issues important to Rockville’s residents and its future, and we believe his law degree and work with the nonprofit orchestra give him a varied well of experience from which to draw.

Carl Henn also earns our endorsement for his strong commitment to keeping Rockville a community that continues to serve its residents well. Mr. Henn never sways from his commitment to the environment — most intensely on the need to become less dependent on oil — but at the heart of that ardor is his knowledge of the issues important to the city. He is a well-intentioned, hard-working man who will bring civility back to the council.

Our final endorsement goes to political newcomer Theodric Anderson. Mr. Anderson served 20 years in the military working with people from diverse backgrounds — a skill that has served him well as a member, and current chairman, of the city’s Human Rights Commission. We appreciate his enthusiasm for making sure that all of the city’s decisions are transparent and include as many voices as possible, not just the most vocal.