GUSTINE – One week after the filing period closed and more than two months before voters have the ultimate say, two familiar candidates are gearing up to run for mayor.

Long-time council member and incumbent Mayor Rich Ford, who became Gustine’s first mayor directly elected by voters two years ago, faces challenger Mark Melville in a rematch of the 2006 race.

Much has changed in those two years, however.

The mayor’s race of 2006 was widely viewed as a referendum on growth, with Melville considered a pro-growth candidate while Ford advocated a conservative approach to residential development.

Growth is still on the minds of community members, but this time around may be overshadowed at least in part by the city’s budget crisis and a pressing need for economic development.

Both candidates said last week that they envision a positive campaign which focuses on the issues.

“I am just going to lay it out there how I see things, and I am sure Rich will do the same,” Melville said. “It won’t be a contentious race between Rich and I. If it is contentious, I think it will be because of the outside influence of individuals.”

At the same time, Melville said, “if people are going to start throwing things out there, I will respond.”

Ford agreed that he would like to see the campaign focus on the issues.

There are more than enough issues at hand, and differences between the two candidates, for the voters to have a clear choice, the incumbent mayor added.

“People can decide what they want for their community and what direction they want to go,” Ford said.

Melville had taken out papers for both the City Council and mayor’s races before deciding to run against Ford for the city’s leadership position.

“I just felt that I was in a better position to offer some leadership in regard to the budget,” he reflected. “I I could offer more in a leadership role as mayor. I think I have an opportunity to be a lot more visible. I can be out and about doing a lot more in the community.”

Melville, a former council member and past police chief and city manager, said he fully expects the focus of the campaign to be different this year than in 2006.

“Growth was the issue two years ago, and the vote total was very close. You almost had a divided community on the growth issue,” he commented. “Growth is not the issue this time around. It is trying to maintain a positive fiscal balance while still providing the services.”

Ford agreed that the budget and economic development challenges facing the city have come to the forefront, but said the growth issue also weighs on the minds of voters.

“Growth is a concern for people,” he stated. “They know this economy is not going to stay like this forever.”

The two candidates differ on a public safety tax going before voters in November as well.

Ford supported the proposal for a three-quarter cent sales tax earmarked for public safety; Melville has stated that he does not.

Each candidate spoke in complimentary terms of the other last week; but each also tried to distinguish himself from the other as the candidate of choice for voters in November.

Ford said he respects Melville’s experience with the workings of local government and said his challenger brings some good ideas to the table.

But while Melville has an abundance of technical experience, Ford said, “I think I have more of the big picture vision of what we’re trying to accomplish.”

And, he added, “I think I can get a little better cooperation from people.”

Melville contends his experience and background would serve the city well.

“I offer a different perspective because I have done it so long on the operational side,” he commented. “I respect Rich, but I feel I have a little more to offer.”

Ultimately, the voters will make that choice.

“We’ll each run our own campaign, and see how it turns out,” Melville reflected.

City Council election

The mayor’s race will be Gustine’s only contested race in November.

The filing period for two council seats closed last Wednesday with only two candidates, incumbent Joe Oliveira and Lynn Schultz, the city’s former director of public works.