Boulder is facing the mother of all City Council elections — 22 candidates and seven open seats. That's a lot of candidates for Boulder voters to research, a lot of websites to read through, a lot of campaign blather about "giving back to the community" and "leadership" to have to absorb. But it also provides a lot of options, and that's a good thing. With so many candidates, there are 154 different City Councils that could emerge from this election. In other words, voters have the ability to make real choices.

True, a lot of the candidates say very much the same thing. They're for "economic viability," "the environment" and "socio-economic diversity," and they're concerned about our "carbon footprint," the impact of "pops and scrape s," and the lack of "affordable housing." But there are differences. This year, Boulder Weekly is endorsing Macon Cowles, Angelique Espinoza, Crystal Gray, Lisa Morzel, Alan O'Hashi, Susan M. Osborne and Eugene Pearson for Boulder City Council.

We leaned heavily toward endorsing Matt Appelbaum, whose experience with local governance is extensive and who has a command of the issues. But his willingness to consider a regressive head tax contradicts the city's need to support small businesses. Besides, didn't he resign last time he had a City Council seat?

We also gave serious consideration to Nabil Karkamaz, whose countless hours of volunteer service to the community prove his commitment. With three post-graduate degrees, he speaks multiple languages and may be among the most educated on the ballot — and in Boulder that's saying something.

Adam Massey earned points for submitting the shortest answers. If you don't want long meetings, vote for him.

Larry Quilling impressed us with his knowledge of water issues and his 800 hours of volunteer time. Knowledgeable on the problems facing Boulder, he would probably serve well on City Council.

Eric Rutherford is the candidate we'd like to have as a next-door neighbor. A graduate of the Naval Academy and former Marine Officer, you know he'd be strapped and ready if bad guys came around. But he also worked for the Drug Enforcement Agency, and the People's Republic is just not a drug war kind of town. Our City Council in the past has made it clear to law enforcement that a War on Some Drugs isn't its highest priority. We don't want to see that change. (Editor's note: No, this endorsement editorial is not written by a stoner.)

We also like Rob Smoke but think he goes off the deep end sometimes. And he brought up that head-tax thing again, forgetting that those irritating commuters are often low- and middle-income Boulder residents who were forced out of the city as a result of growth control. A head tax would hurt small businesses, which would in turn pass that hurt on to these same commuters. (Hint: To get people out of their cars, we need European-style mass transit, not this lame-ass RTD stuff.)

Ken Wilson came within a breath of earning our endorsement, and perhaps you should vote for him. We admire his broad experience both with the city and in a number of demanding fields, as well as his grasp of the issues. But we're nervous about the redevelopment of Uni Hill, not wanting to see that part of town lose its distinct student flavor in favor of more fru-fru boutiques, upscale restaurants and other bourgeois destinations. Instead, we chose Macon Cowles, an environmental and civil-rights attorney who would bring a wealth of knowledge about environmental issues to City Council.

We also endorsed incumbent Crystal Gray, who gave perhaps the most Boulder answer to our question, "What would you not do?" by stating, "And, finally, I do not support hate crimes or those that commit them." Gray's stated intent to examine the environmental, social and economic sides of all issues earned our support.

Angelique Espinoza earns our endorsement because we like the idea of having some Real People on a City Council that is often dominated by the poverty-challenged. Sometimes Real People see things that others can't see. With her experience as a small business owner and her commitment to our Latino community, she has the potential to help the city realize goals it normally only discusses.

We chose Alan O'Hashi because he actually gets it. He understands the connection between Boulder's growth control and its economic troubles. Because limited growth caused housing prices to skyrocket, many people who were born in Boulder can no longer afford to live here. Further, those who hold the city's lower-paying jobs can't afford to live here either. This means a lot of people commute to Boulder every day, increasing pollution and congestion on our roads. But it also means that they take their paychecks home to Longmont, Louisville, Denver and other destinations east and spend their money there. O'Hashi's experience with cultural sensitivity would also be an asset to City Council.

Eugene Pearson has impressed us since he first ran for City Council two years ago. We endorsed him then, as well. Gifted with incredible drive, intelligence and concern for his community, he also falls into the category of Real Person. There's not a yuppy bone in his body, but there is a deep understanding of environmental issues gained through his years with CU's Environmental Center. Because he lives the lifestyle most Boulder residents just preach about — he doesn't own a car and lives as green as he can — he's a leader by example at a time when the need to break away from fossil fuels is critical. Vote for him this time, damn it!

And how could we not endorse Susan Osborne? She's one of the people who brought us the Boulder Creek Path, arguably the city's most popular feature after the foothills. A city planner by training, she brings a lifetime of professional experience and service to a board that desperately needs it. Balanced and clear-headed, she has the big picture in mind.

Former City Council member Lisa Morzel rounds out our endorsements. She knows the city inside and out and understands the challenges. Her experience will be invaluable on a council with so many new faces. And though weÊ hope she abandons any interest in exploring the insulting head tax, we know she'll stand up for the less privileged in our community because we've seen her do it before.

Now all that remains is for you to open that ballot and vote.