Any government body - from Congress to the Statehouse to City Hall - can use contrarians who stick to the pertinent issues but ask some uncomfortable questions.

Latching onto that theme, several Boise City Council candidates promise to challenge the prevailing wisdom at City Hall.

Yet as we look at these races, we aren't persuaded about turning out two solid incumbents: Vern Bisterfeldt and Maryanne Jordan. We also endorse TJ Thomson, who has run a meticulous race since January and has done his homework on city issues.

TJ THOMSON

The race between Thomson and Dave Litster has commanded the spotlight, to no surprise. It is an open race to succeed the retiring Jim Tibbs, the longtime police officer and ex-police chief who has been as close to a foil as Bieter has had on the council.

The race has divided City Hall. Bieter, Bisterfeldt, Jordan and council members Elaine Clegg and David Eberle back Thomson, while Tibbs endorses Litster.

The race also is nonpartisan in name only. Thomson enjoys support from key Democrats. Litster, who pledges to bring a conservative view to the council, has rounded up local GOP endorsements.

But it does come down to choosing the newcomer best prepared for the job, and that's Thomson.

Litster is no ideologue. He supports urban renewal, branch libraries and expanded bus service and is open to local-option taxation. His race has fixated on fighting the Downtown streetcar and tapping into the growing controversy surrounding the $60 million project. That, coupled with his late entry into the race, makes for a campaign of convenience.

Thomson, meanwhile, has spent nearly a year campaigning. In his meeting with the editorial board, he seemed to try too hard to incorporate too many issues, some in passing. On balance, though, he better understands the myriad tasks facing City Hall.

On the streetcar, he is thoughtfully skeptical about the cost, the aesthetics of cables and the impact on Downtown drivers. Like Litster, he criticizes the $90,000 streetcar public outreach contract - a bad idea that unfortunately is back on the council's Tuesday agenda. We don't want Thomson to be a rubber stamp. His critical thinking on the streetcar is a good sign.

VERN BISTERFELDT

A former police officer and Ada County commissioner, Bisterfeldt is a local institution. In eight years on the council, he has shown a willingness to change his mind - for instance, he has gone from a branch library skeptic to an advocate.

Bisterfeldt is still the same plain thinker he's always been. While he'd like to see expanded bus service, he's clearly displeased that the city is spending $5.3 million of its own tax money while picking up the slack for neighboring communities. "We're paying more than our fair share, I think."

Bisterfeldt ran as a contrarian, frustrated after City Hall annexed his home into Boise. His independent streak and his institutional knowledge of local government make for a strong combination - we'd just like to see more of both in a third term.

MARYANNE JORDAN

Appointed to the council after the 2003 spending scandal that took down former Mayor Brent Coles, Jordan has proven to be a diligent, cerebral council member. That shows in her own self-assessment: She lists as her top accomplishment her work to help rewrite the city's comprehensive land use plan and zoning ordinance.

A city council needs members who are willing to do the grunt work that preserves quality of life. Jordan has proven willing and equal to the task.

While Jordan still wants to see more studies about the streetcar, she has supported most other city initiatives. That provides an opening for her opponents, such as Lucas Baumbach, a small-business owner who pledges to break a council "monoculture."

Baumbach has a good point: He'd like to change the way the council drops controversial items such as the streetcar P.R. contract into a far-ranging "consent agenda." And he has a provocateur's wit, panning the streetcar as a moat to surround the pit at Boise Tower. "Just go somewhere, please, if you're going to spend that money."

Baumbach may have a political future, but Jordan's experience and temperament better fits Boiseans' interests.

"Our View" is the editorial position of the Idaho Statesman. It is an unsigned opinion expressing the consensus of the Statesman's editorial board. To comment on an editorial or suggest a topic, e-mail editorial@idahostatesman.com.