Linda Gorton, Ronnie Bastin best choices for Lexington mayor

Gorton has been a force for cleaner streams, air and politics. She led stakeholders who hammered out how to apportion the cost of a court-ordered sewer and storm water overhaul among ratepayers and developers. She was an early champion of Kentucky’s first smoke-free law and opposed pork-barrel spending by council members. A registered nurse, she has a long commitment to equity in opportunity for all.

Bastin, a former police chief and public safety commissioner, has succeeded at tough governmental challenges, from managing large budgets to perfecting control of couch-burning crowds of drunken hoops fans. He joined the police force in 1984 and was appointed chief in 2008 and public safety commissioner in 2015.

Bastin describes himself as a builder of relationships and consensus — skills that would give him a leg-up. While his first campaign commercial stressed his police background, it's clear he’s been doing his homework on issues that would be new to him as mayor. He voiced a commitment to grow the economy, jobs and especially small businesses without sprawling into the world-class landscape that makes Lexington unique.

The other two candidates with local government experience — former mayor Teresa A. Isaac and at-large council member Kevin O. Stinnett — have records that should raise doubts with voters. Both have demonstrated an aversion to openness, no particular interest in consensus building and a tendency to camouflage or bulldoze through their agendas.

Late last year, Stinnett sprung an amendment on the council that would have undone 60 years of careful land-use planning. Stinnett unveiled his vague but expansive plan without warning and without giving the city’s planning and legal staffs — or the public — a chance to study or weigh in on the likely effects. Stinnett’s stealth move would have invited court challenges to Lexington’s anti-sprawl boundary — and provided grounds to win those challenges — anytime a developer or landowner wanted to pursue almost any development outside the urban area. The amendment received a majority of council votes until one member changed his vote. Stinnett has yet to own up to his real purpose, insisting that he supported the current boundary. His real agenda is revealed by the money that is flowing into his campaign from developers and development interests that want a green light to develop green fields.

In his 14 years on council, Stinnett has worked hard and become expert in the city budget, but has too often shown questionable judgment.

In Isaac's four years as mayor (2003-2007) and earlier as an at-large council member and vice mayor, she proved that she lacks the leadership skills and temperament to govern effectively, though her energy and enthusiasm for Lexington are boundless.

A review of Isaac’s years as mayor reveals that it wasn’t just the fierce battle over ownership of the water utility that tripped her up. She regularly blindsided the council and then overreacted or retaliated when people balked. After council members failed to leap to embrace her call for a new tax in 2003, for example, she sent council staff layoff warnings, a move that backfired when the council took control of the budget process and nixed the tax and layoffs. In her interview with the editorial board, Isaac gave no indication that she has learned from past mistakes.

Making his first run for public office, Ike Lawrence has been active in neighborhood associations and civic and recreational causes. As a landlord and remodeler, he questions city data supporting proposals for a new city hall. He opposes affordable housing programs and aid to the homeless as unfair competition for owners of rental property.

Candidates William Weyman and perennial candidate Skip Horine lack the grounding or experience to merit serious consideration.

Unendorsed candidates who met with the editorial board have until noon May 14 to submit a 250-word response.