For the two candidates running in Poulsbo’s mayoral election this year, experience is not a factor.

The challenger for the mayor’s office is a current City Council member, the same place the current mayor got her relevant on-the-job experience.

The candidates’ dedication to the city and its residents isn’t an issue; they both live and breathe Poulsbo.

But what has hung up some observers, including the North Kitsap Herald Editorial Board which could not garner a majority to recommend either Kathryn Quade or Becky Erickson for mayor, are the reservations about each candidate.

Considering the state of the U.S. and local economy, where nationally one in 10 workers are collecting unemployment insurance benefits, Poulsbo has undergone hand-wringing over the $15.8 million City Hall being built.

Mayor Quade has attempted to distance herself from the decision to place the City Hall at its current location.

It’s true that Quade has a list of accomplishments, and as mayor she didn’t vote for the project, however, she presented the location to the council after the panel failed to find a majority on other locations and advised them to be “bold.”

Quade has suggested any anger be directed at the council.

At the same time, Quade has claimed credit for other projects, where the City Council likewise signaled its support.

It’s a contradiction that deserves note, especially after an unpopular proposal her administration introduced last summer to rezone a city park. Quade backed off the proposal.

Erickson started in city government as an activist, has pressed for smarter growth and pounded the lectern for answers on City Hall. In the two years she has sat on the council she has also alienated city employees and other council members. A staff member exclaimed during a public meeting she felt Erickson was accusing her of “doing something wrong.”

At the same meeting, where Erickson expressed dismay that information on City Hall spending was not made more obvious to council members, Councilman Dale Rudolph abruptly left the meeting in a huff. He had felt insulted by another councilwoman, Linda Berry-Maraist, but it was Erickson who led the charge. Councilwoman Kim Crowder described Erickson as “combative” to the Herald’s editorial board.

Erickson also has a history of backing out of commitments when she disagreed with the direction of the group — notably, the City Hall project team.

And recently, Erickson wrote in an email to council members she would not participate in comprehensive plan discussions as “the script has been written,” according to an e-mail obtained by the Herald.

The editorial board members expressed admiration for qualities possessed by both candidates, Quade for her ease with people and professionalism, Erickson for her inquisitiveness and tenacity.

The candidates have accomplished much, and have much more to offer residents.

But the agreement among the editorial board, apparently, is that with either Quade or Erickson, Poulsbo voters will not get the best of all worlds.