Linda Koelling and Rick Wykoff are seeking re-election and a third seat is wide open as Mayor Ron Cox is termed out of office. Planning Commissioner Art Kiesel; Marcia Cohn-Lyle, San Mateo Union High School District trustee; Education Committee member Stanley Roberts; Foster City Education Foundation co-founder Huijun Ring and Patrick McKinnie have also qualified as candidates for the race.

Education, economic growth and development are taking center stage in the race. Foster City residents have long pushed for their own high school. A recent decision by the City Council will allocate for four acres of the 15-acre vacant property near City Hall for a charter school. The rest of the property will be developed into housing and retail. The entire planning process is expected to take at least 18-months.

Huijun Ring is the co-founder of the Foster City Education Foundation, which is advocating for a charter high school in the city. Ring is pushing for a city-sponsored education center that goes “beyond just a public high school.” It would have classes for all residents, despite age or education goals, she said.

Ring argues that having a high school or education center will boost business in the city.

Ring, 39, is married with two children. She moved to the city six years ago. She has a Ph.D. in molecular biology from Cornell University and a degree in medical genetics from Stanford University. She is currently a biotech program director.

Ring is already running a strong campaign with supporter parties scheduled, a full Web site and a growing list of endorsers. She prides herself on being a Chinese American running for office.

“Since 1993, there has been no Asian American candidates for council and I think it’s about time,” she said.

Roberts sits on the city’s education committee and is also one of two people making their second bid for the council. Both Roberts and Kiesel ran unsuccessfully for council in 2005. Roberts came in fourth in the race for two seats, earning 10.36 percent of the vote.

“The last time I ran no one knew who I was ... it was basically a chance to get my feet wet,” Roberts said.

Roberts, 44, with two children, has lived in the city for the last four years. He is a journalist and food critic. He produces a daily piece on KRON 4 called “People behaving badly.”

He is the vice chair of the Foster City Education Committee, to which he was appointed two years ago. He is still a strong proponent of a high school and is pleased with the city’s progress in developing the 15-acre parcel of land near City Hall. The proposal will bring a much-needed “downtown” to Foster City, Roberts said.

Roberts also wants to explore ways to expand affordable housing in the city and sustainable energy. By building covered parking where parking already exists, the city could install roof-top solar panels to create its own power, he said. The proposal will require a lot of money, but would be worth it years down the road, he said.

Another person with a keen interest in planning issues is Kiesel.

Kiesel, a current planning commissioner, is making his second bid for the council. He earned 22.22 percent of the vote was the first runner-up in the 2005 council race. Kiesel said he underestimated the number of voters who turned out for the last election and plans to make contact with more residents before this year’s Nov. 6 election.

Kiesel wants to see the 15-acre development move forward with a with mix of retail, housing and enough space for a good meeting area or park. The city must also look at ways to “get revenue in front of expenditures” to avoid any budget cuts in the future, he said.

There are a number of large developments happening in Foster City and Kiesel wants to keep a close eye on the projects.

“Lots of things are happening and we’ve got to make sure we act quickly,” Kiesel said.

Kiesel, 64, is married with two sons and two granddaughters. He thinks his direct involvement with the city through the Planning Commission gives him a leg up on the competition.

Another candidate with a long history of civil service, and a proven track record of winning elections, is San Mateo Union High School District Trustee Cohn-Lyle.

Cohn-Lyle, 71, is a retired adult education teacher and has lived in Foster City for 39 years. She spent 12 years on the school board and is now making good on a long-held idea to run for the Foster City Council. Cohn-Lyle first considered running for the council in the 1970s and said now is the right time to make the move.

Cohn-Lyle is also concerned with the large-scale developments in the city, especially the 15-acre site near City Hall.

“It definitely needs to be revenue producing,” Cohn-Lyle said.

She also approves of the “cradle to grave” housing which will include senior housing with the possibility of medical facilities for the city’s aging population.

The youngest candidate in the race is Patrick McKinnie, 26. He is a group home counselor with a degree in political science from University of California at Davis and a degree in psychology. He was raised in Foster City.

“I don’t think the city is focusing on the residents. I think they need to focus more on the concerns of residents,” McKinnie said.

McKinnie feels speed limits are too high in the city. He would like to see more speed humps.

Meanwhile, incumbents Koelling and Wykoff say they welcome the crowded race.

“It makes things exciting,” Koelling said.

Koelling, 58, is seeking her second term on the council. She was appointed to the position four years ago when no other challengers entered the race. She is a former park and recreation supervisor and Foster City business owner. She is a 34-year resident and married with three grown children and three grandchildren.

Koelling said she wants to focus on major developments in the city, including making the 15-acre site a destination area with a downtown feel and plenty of shopping boutiques.

Wykoff wants to maintain the same goals he held for the last six years on council.

“I think we’ve helped maintain the infrastructure and maintain fiscal responsibility,” he said.

Dana Yates can be reached by e-mail: dana@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106.