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Greensboro City Council campaigns conclude today with voting from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. Every seat is contested, and some close finishes are possible -- which means every vote is important. Greensboro residents should not miss this opportunity to choose the people who will lead local government for the next two years.

Also on the ballot is a $20 million bond proposal for the Greensboro Natural Science Center. Here's a recap of our recommendations:

Mayor

First-term Mayor Yvonne Johnson exhibits calm leadership and pursues policies of inclusion, not division. She promotes a vision of economic growth and opportunity, better public safety and more effective government. She's been visible and responsive to residents throughout the city.

Challenger Bill Knight is affable and energetic, and his accounting credentials would help in setting budget priorities. But he hasn't offered a convincing argument for replacing Johnson. She deserves another two years.

District 1

Incumbent T. Dianne Bellamy-Small stays in touch with community concerns and represents district interests forcefully. She's been effective in organizing various groups and individuals around common goals.

Luther Falls Jr. offers expertise in small business issues and lifetime familiarity with the district. He presents a credible alternative, but experience in office gives Bellamy-Small the edge.

District 2

This race matches two first-time candidates, Jim Kee and Nettie Coad.

Kee can make a strong contribution to the City Council given his professional work as a developer and his community efforts as a leader of Concerned Citizens of Northeast Greensboro. He's invested in the community and brings specific knowledge about building a good business environment and creating jobs.

Coad is a respected community leader, but Kee is more likely to become an influential voice on the council.

District 3

Zack Matheny has been an energetic council member during his first term, addressing issues related to downtown development, public safety and neighborhood noise concerns. He's focused special efforts on engaging young professionals in civic affairs.

To challenger George Hartzman, improving Greensboro begins with ensuring honest elections by prohibiting candidates from accepting campaign contributions from special interests. His concern about ethics in government is admirable, but Matheny doesn't pose a problem in that regard and merits re-election.

District 4

Joel Landau and Mary Rakestraw are contending for this open seat. His experience in small-business management and record of service on the Planning Board, Community Sustainability Council and with the Greensboro Neighborhood Congress make him a solid choice.

Rakestraw, who holds an at-large seat, appeals to many voters for her conservative approach to budgeting, but Landau offers a history of quiet effectiveness that's at times been lacking on the council.

District 5

Incumbent Trudy Wade is a creative thinker with the drive to get things done, whether it's reducing a speed limit on a residential street or organizing a small-business summit.

Her opponent, Art Boyett, is pleasant and well-spoken, but he's also relatively new to the city and lacks the credentials to merit election at this time.

At-large

Six candidates are vying for three seats. All have something to offer, but Nancy Vaughan, Robbie Perkins and Gary Nixon stand just a step ahead.

Vaughan was a popular councilwoman from 1997 to 2001 and has gained more experience since then as a member of the PTI Airport Authority. She calls for low taxes and fees and stricter ethics guidelines.

Perkins has spent 14 years on the City Council and is second-to-none in knowledge and understanding of important issues. He's also an active proponent of regional initiatives.

Nixon, running for the first time, is an engineer whose company has done extensive infrastructure work for area governments. He offers an analytical approach to city issues.

Councilwoman Sandra Anderson Groat, Marikay Abuzuaiter and Danny Thompson are capable and credible candidates. All received significant support in last month's primary. Voters really couldn't go wrong with any selection in the at-large race.

Natural Science Center bond

Voters have approved a considerable amount of bond debt in recent years, but they still would be wise to say yes to this one, which would add an aquarium, among other amenities.

The center generates substantial visitor spending and jobs. It also raises most of its funds privately and has been an exemplary steward of taxpayer money.