On the Nov. 5 ballot, residents in only one of Novato’s five city council districts will have a choice about whom they want making decisions guiding their city.

As the city enters its third round of district-based council elections, only District 1 has a contest.

Two longtime Novato residents, James Petray and Kevin Jacobs, are running for the seat that’s open due to the retirement of Susan Wernick, who was elected in 2019 to represent the San Marin-centered district.

There are no contests for two other council seats that were headed for the ballot. Incumbents Tim O’Connor and Mark Milberg drew no challengers.

Councilmembers Rachel Farac and Pat Eklund don’t face election until 2026.

Still, there are plenty of issues to debate, from Novato’s precarious finances and its recent management lapses to growth, including the future of the Fireman’s Fund campus and meeting the state’s housing quotas that mandates Novato build 2,090 residences by 2031.

Both Petray and Jacobs have skills and experience the council could use.

Petray, making his second run for the council, is a certified public accountant whose experience could prove helpful in unraveling some of the city’s financial messes.

Jacobs is a retired builder and contractor. He’s also a member of the city’s design review commission. His expertise could prove helpful in guiding council decisions regarding development plans and construction projects.

It’s a close call, but Jacobs is the stronger of the two candidates.

His involvement with the Novato Chamber of Commerce and his active participation in City Hall decisions gives him the edge.

“I want to make sure we have a clean, safe place to live,” he said, stressing that maintaining local police protection is his top priority.

Jacobs wholeheartedly supports the Measure M sales tax increase that’s also on the Nov. 5 ballot. He says it brings Novato’s sales tax to the level charged by most Marin cities and would provide the revenue needed so the city can retain quality staff, especially police officers.

Petray is a reluctant vote in favor of an increase. But he says the city has “dug itself in a huge hole” that it can’t get out of without a tax increase. He says he will “vote for it with caution.”

Both men are cautiously supportive of the Novato Unified School District’s push for building affordable housing for its teachers and staff, including building on the long-vacant San Andreas site in San Marin.

Jacobs is worried that the district may sell the 21-acre site to a developer and use that revenue to build teacher housing at another site. That strategy could limit community input into the size and design of the development and put the district in the position of managing the transaction, a real estate skillset it doesn’t have.

Petray says he could support development if the community has a say in its size and design.

He also would like to see the plan broadened to include police and city workers.

Jacobs is supportive of plans to replace the mostly shuttered Fireman’s Fund campus with new development with 1,100 units, ranging from single family homes to apartments. He says it is a great opportunity for Novato to meet its housing quota.

He calls the plan “a big plus for the city.”

Petray is more cautious. He’s worried about traffic and potential environmental impacts and the development’s effect on Novato’s water supply.

Both men have lived in Novato for a long time. They know their town. They’re engaged and they care about their community. Jacobs may be “an insider” compared to Petray, but he has experience that’s missing on the council. As the city faces the state’s push for more growth, Jacobs can review proposals with a builder’s eye and help make sure new construction complements Novato and promises made are kept.

On the Nov. 5 ballot, the IJ editorial board recommends Kevin Jacobs to the Novato City Council.