It certainly has not been a good two years in Buckeye.

The 2006 election of three Town Council members and new mayor Bobby Bryant, who promised more communication and a refreshing openness in government, brought a wave of optimism that this growth-charged community would find the necessary stability and build credibility in its less-than-stellar system of governance.

Sad to say, it has not happened.

If anything, the town has taken a couple of painful steps backward.

Key slots have been filled on an interim basis. There's been an exodus of staff. Two town managers received their walking papers with huge severance packages and absolutely no comment as to why. The historic Raney House that was moved downtown has been left to rot, a sad symbol of Buckeye ineptitude. Issues that were front and center two years ago -- for example the decaying buildings in downtown -- remain unresolved.

Bryant, 61, is struggling to win another term in the March 11 election against longtime community leader Jackie Meck, 66, and young, energetic businessman Michael Todd, 33.

We believe Meck, who sought the mayoral post two years ago, has the interest, the experience and the dedication to make the change that Buckeye desperately needs in its next mayor. We recommend his candidacy.

In recommending Bryant two years ago, we thought we had found the leader that Buckeye deserved, a person with Town Council experience who pledged a more open government and had the ideas to take charge and oversee Buckeye's emergence from small town to city.

Bryant has not delivered. He says that two years is not enough time.

We beg to differ.

We see in Meck, a lifelong Buckeye resident, a steady, experienced and confident person who knows the town better than anyone. Meck, we believe, would be a uniter, not a divider, and can best set the tone to restore confidence in Buckeye government. His prior council terms from 1968 to 1975, including three years as mayor, and another council term from 2002 to 2006, give him the necessary experience. He has a long and admirable record of community service.

“I've been around and done everything,” he said.

Meck likes to say that he is not a member of the good ol' boy network. OK, we take him at his word. But because Buckeye is on the cusp of dramatic growth in its 600 square miles, the mayor has to take the reins, shake things up and be an agent of change. We hope he is up to the task.

His priorities are finding a qualified town manager, pursuing industries and jobs, establishing better communication and unifying the town's far-flung residential enclaves. Following through on these would jump-start the town and shake its palpable inertia.

Todd lacks experience. He has served two years as vice chairman of the Airport Advisory Board, and recent disclosures of his wife's order of protection against him raise a character issue and give us pause.

We recommend Jackie Meck for mayor.