You have your ballot. It’s time to vote!

I will have served on the Astoria City Council’s Ward 2 for eight years as of Dec. 31. I’ve chosen to not run for reelection. This year I feel I can weigh in on this coming election.

For Ward 2 there is only one candidate, Andrea Mazzarella, who I wholeheartedly endorse. She has long been part of this community, bringing her experience serving on a variety of nonprofit boards, as a member of the city’s budget committee, Realtor and downtown building owner, as well as waiting tables and bartending in earlier years.

The Ward 4 race has fielded three candidates. All three have involved themselves in City Council business, regularly attending meetings in person and virtually. As a result, I have had the chance to listen to each of them express their concerns to the City Council.

Of the three, I endorse Vance Lump. I consider him a housing-for-all advocate, seeing the need for housing at all levels of income. He is realistic about what the city can and cannot do when it comes to housing. This is important.

Those on the City Council have spent enough time discussing this to have that understanding, so they won’t waste time and resources chasing ideas not grounded in reality. This kind of thoughtfulness, pragmatic thinking and willingness to listen translates well when considering all the other challenges Astoria faces.

So for Astoria city councilor, Ward 4, please seriously consider voting for Lump.

THOMAS BROWNSON

Astoria