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The Star endorses incumbent Democrat Sharon Bronson for re-election to the only seat on the Pima County Board of Supervisors being contested in the general election.

Bronson, who has served since 1996, is an experienced supervisor who is knowledgeable about issues facing Pima County. She was instrumental in the development of Pima County's Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan and is an advocate for sustainable economic development and responsible growth.

Bronson faces Republican businessman Barney Brenner, who is seeking, for a second time, to unseat her from her District 3 seat. Democratic Supervisors Richard Elías and Ramón Valadez, and Republicans Ray Carroll and Ann Day are unopposed for re-election in the Nov. 4 general election.

One worrisome negative in Bronson's column was her role in resisting the release of electronic databases of vote tallies to the Pima County Democratic Party, which was questioning the integrity of the May 2006 Regional Transportation Authority election. A judge later ordered the county to release the tallies.

There is little to no evidence that the election was rigged, but questions about it should have been addressed expeditiously and openly. We expect our public representatives to support the public's access to information. In the future, Bronson should fight for the public's right to see such documents.

Bronson is co-chairwoman of the board of Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities Inc. On economic development, Bronson told the Star's editorial board that the region must make it a priority to attract "sustainable" businesses.

"We are poised to bring in solar, biomedical and other businesses with shovel-ready sites," she said.

"The conservation plan is an economic tool," Bronson noted, because new businesses' workers will be attracted by an urban cultural environment combined with a great outdoors environment.

To assure the attractive, urban piece of that puzzle, Bronson said supervisors "must work with the city to bring Rio Nuevo to fruition."

"Like it or not, Pima County is going to grow at a rate of around 20,000 people a year," she said. "We need to grow smart, where we have existing infrastructure or can get it."

Despite the economic downturn, Bronson said she believes the county is "well positioned in terms of its fiscal '09 budget."

The budget included 5 percent spending cuts, she said, but law enforcement was "held harmless."

"Our priorities are where we need them to be," she said.

The county's property tax rate was cut 8 percent, she said, noting that for three years running the rate has either held steady or been reduced. (County taxpayers may see higher tax bills, however, because appraisals increased.)

Bronson said her priorities will be to continue to enhance the county's conservation plan, to work toward a government tax structure that is "sustainable and equitable" and to promote economic development.

We endorse Bronson to continue on the Pima County Board of Supervisors.