In her quest for a third term, Mayor Colleen Hilton faces two challengers with impressive ideas for moving the city of Westbrook forward.

James Tranchemontagne, a well-known restaurant owner in town not afraid to mix it up, is pro-business and says the city needs to do a lot more to welcome new businesses with open arms. He’s a strong candidate, and we agree with many of his ideas to accomplish that.

Ernest Porell is also focused on improving the downtown area. In addition, he is strong on crime and feels Westbrook won’t be able to lift from its doldrums until it removes the drug element and resultant thefts and burglaries arising from desperate addicts willing to steal for their dope. We, too, agree crime is an issue.

Hilton said that, if elected, this would be her third and final term, and that she’s running again to see projects through to their completion.

Particularly, Hilton wants to continue better utilizing the Presumpscot River as it flows through downtown, working with Bill Baker, the city’s economic development director, to decommission and install fish passage at Saccarappa Dam.

Hilton, who did well to bring about the removal of the eyesore Maine Rubber building, agrees the downtown needs improving, both in terms of economic development and aesthetics, saying, “I’d like to see a lot more happening than what is happening right now,” while adding, “we are on the cusp of something great.”

We agree that three more years to allow her to accomplish her goals would be wise for her fellow Westbrook residents to grant.

We would hope in her third term that Hilton, if elected, would work even harder to revitalize downtown. As her opponents have pointed out, since the downtown is emblematic of Westbrook, revitalization and lowering taxes so businesses see the city as a viable place to locate and grow should be the primary purpose of the next mayor. The foundation of a thriving commercial sector will allow the whole of Westbrook to blossom, give jobs to residents and fill the city’s coffers.

Hilton needs to reignite her own passion for leadership. She came rip-roaring into office, shaking things up by firing some long-serving employees and facing head on a sexual harassment scandal at the Westbrook Fire-Rescue Department. She led the city through long and difficult negotiations with Pike Industries regarding its blasting at its Spring Street quarry, all the while managing to retain the internationally known Idexx Laboratories, which at one time threatened to leave due to the blasting impasse.

Hilton has the proven skills and savvy to lead the city. But this time, she needs to get some of that fire back. She must seal the deals she says are in the wings that will produce big things for Westbrook. She must use her mayoral clout to make things happen.