Three Honolulu City Council seats are up for grabs in the Nov. 8 general election and in each race, strong incumbents face political newcomers who say they would offer fresh perspectives.

Adding political context to these races is the fact that the mayor’s office is also up for election. The Council’s current nine members are roughly split on their man for the top job, with at least four endorsing one candidate but another three endorsing the other. With the Council routinely at loggerheads with the current administration, who wins the mayor’s seat and how the Council shapes up will be consequential for a range of major Oahu issues, including rail and housing.

Among all six Council candidates, in fact, the high-priority issues remain consistent: homelessness, traffic and rail transit, and affordable housing.

But district-level issues such as pedestrian safety, Salt Lake Waterway maintenance, rehabilitation of Varona Village in Ewa and more, also demand the attention of Council members.

Our endorsements:

District 5

This race pits incumbent Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi, a political veteran, against Kimberly Case, who has twice run for state office, including an unsuccessful bid in 2010 against state House Rep. Isaac Choy.

In this district — which includes Kaimuki, Palolo Valley, St. Louis Heights, Manoa, Moiliili, McCully and Makiki — both candidates cite homelessness and affordable housing as critical issues for the area.

Although we’re intrigued by Case’s fresh ideas such as converting closed schools into homeless shelters and promoting an at-grade tram or trolley system from Middle Street to Ala Moana, finding success takes experience and political know-how. Case, unfortunately, has no public track record to show she can deliver.

Kobayashi, meanwhile, recently spearheaded the effort to regulate ride-hailing companies such as Uber and Lyft. She touts a 2005 initiative that she introduced to establish the real property tax credit for low-income families whose home valuations continue to rise. She recently introduced bills providing the tax credit to more homeowners, and voters should track her progress on these issues.

Kobayashi has been a constant opponent of rail, a position on which we disagree, and has a tendency to naysay rather than offer viable alternatives; perhaps it comes with helming the powerful Budget Committee. Some voters might prefer new blood with Case, but on balance, Kobayashi’s broad community ties and political expertise give her the edge.

District 7

Councilman Joey Manahan faces newcomer Chace Shigemasa in the district that covers Kalihi, lwilei, Mapunapuna, Salt Lake, Foster Village, Ford Island and Sand Island.

The district is home to a majority of the state’s housing projects, shelter programs and social service efforts — and Manahan’s role in coordinating homeless efforts between the city, state and social service providers is one reason why voters should allow him a second term. He also is working to resolve jurisdictional issues over the Salt Lake Waterway maintenance problem.

Shigemasa was a legislative aide for state Rep. Linda Ichiyama in the 2011 and 2012 sessions, and now works in the private sector. While he offers new ideas to tackle core issues such as homelessness and traffic, at this stage, more community involvement would add heft to his quest to become one of nine Council members.

District 9

In the district that includes Waikele, Village Park, Royal Kunia, Mililani Town, West Loch, Iroquois Point and portions of Ewa Villages and Ewa Beach, incumbent Ron Menor has been a strong advocate for constituents and deserves to continue his work to ensure the district receives its fair share of improvements — from parks to roads.

Menor squares off against Emil Svrcina, a computer specialist at the University of Hawaii Cancer Center. Svrcina, who describes himself as an “objective outsider,” is a member of the Mililani Neighborhood Board and vice president of the conservative Hawaii Republican Assembly.