Once criticized as an uncompetitive race, the Calistoga City Council campaign now features three residents challenging two incumbents, making it one of the most heated races in the county. Separately, Mayor Dr. Andrew Alexander is stepping down and two councilmembers are vying for the seat.

As a result of all the action, the look of the next City Council could be dramatically different. Here's a look at the city council candidates:

Robert 'Buddy' Barberis Jr.

One potential newcomer to city politics is Buddy Barberis, who was inspired to run for the council after a request for a simple subdivision of his family's land led the city to tell him he needed to pony up more than a $1 million to help pay to underground power lines and build a path.

The project is still ongoing, and Barberis says he has learned a lot about how local government works. But the 37-year-old vineyard manager said his concerns about the city extend way beyond the confines of his family's property. He grew up in town and sees a different place than existed 20 years ago.

"This town has changed a lot," he said. "We're growing at a tremendous rate right now that we've got these water allotments. I want to see kids that I went to school with and kids that are graduating now be able to live here. It's become too pricey, all these million-dollar house going up, which I'm not against, but we've got to find a way to strike a balance."

Barberis said the city can't just rely on developers of new homes to provide affordable housing. He said the city needs to use existing stock for middle-class residents, as well.

"You need to figure out a way to get people to stay here in Calistoga, that is the big issue," he said. "Towns are going to change but you still want to keep the character of the town. I'd like to find a way to get back to where people can walk down the street and know everybody."

Placido Garcia-Hernandez

One of the most dramatic changes would come if Placido Garcia-Hernandez, 65, is elected. He would become of one of the valley's few Hispanic elected leaders. Hispanics make up a large chunk of the Calistoga population, but save for Garcia-Hernandez's frequent involvement on city and community commissions, they have little representation.

But Garcia-Hernandez said he is not running as a Latino candidate. He wants to represent the entire city. The vineyard manager said his ideas for the city include finding ways to increase economic growth.

"We need money to make money," he said. "We need investment in Calistoga. ... I want to push for more vitality in economics because the tourists are the foundation for this town."

More tourists mean more tourist taxes that could be used to enhance public safety and pay for basic infrastructure like roads, water and sewer capacity.

As development creeps in, Garcia-Hernandez wants to pressure developers to build homes that middle- and lower-income people can afford.

"I see a lot of space around," he said. "It's very important to build those houses."

Gary Kraus

Having seen the city from the vantage point of a public safety official in the past several years, Calistoga Fire Chief Gary Kraus has taken the plunge into city politics.

Kraus, 55, sees a need for the city to operate more efficiently. The City Council, he said, needs to be part of the process.

"I have worked in other agencies where the City Council gets a weekly rundown of activity in city departments." he said. "It basically makes the City Council aware of how busy the staff is and what is being accomplished out there."

Kraus said one good use of city resources is the Economic Vitality Group.

"We're a tourist economy," he said. "If somebody comes here and spends the kind of money they spend in this community, we want that person to come away from here thinking, 'I got my money's worth.'"

Kraus also said building middle- and lower-income housing is essential to turn around the trend of importing labor and to lift the level of community involvement.

"We lose that citizen to do things like be at the PTA, coach soccer, get involved with the little league, help out at the church, be members of the Rotary Club -- all of the things that the middle class helps support a community," he said.

Karen Slusser

Having been part of a City Council that pressured developments like the Solage Calistoga project to build affordable homes, the 62-year-old Slusser is confident that if voters give her another term, she will continue with solid stewardship.

For her, cooperation among city and county governments is central to dealing with the demands that state agencies place on cities to grow.

"The cities and the county are coming together to band together as a unit to try and accomplish the goals of the valley," she said. "I think it's going to be the only way we're going to survive."

Since a de facto water moratorium was resolved by a past council, Slusser said the current council has had to deal with a flood of development proposals that has led them to move toward expanding the planning department.

"We need to be diligent in how we move forward," Slusser said. "The thing that scares me is if we let everybody (develop) at the same time we will be a town under construction and people won't find us as charming."

Janice von Pohle

One thing City Councilwoman Janice von Pohle says she would like to see under construction is the community pool, which has been in the planning process since the 1990s. Only recently has the fundraising come together.

"It wasn't until this particular City Council that the city ... made a substantial donation," she said.

As developments come forward, she says it's important for the city to ward off the tendency for high-end homes or large subdivisions.

"The city has a vision of not doing big expansions," von Pohle said. "What we want to do is preserve the city so it is a small rural town. Vacant land needs to be carefully managed so somebody doesn't come along and build 75 units on that property. We're making attempts not to have land being developed by people who want to build trophy homes, and of course we're pushing very hard for affordable housing."

Von Pohle also wants to be on the City Council to put in place the recommendations of the Economic Vitality Committee, charged with brainstorming ways to boost tourist revenues.

"They're a very competent committee," she said. "It's just a matter of implementing what they come up with."