Voters in Fort Collins City Council District 2 have familiar candidates to choose from in the April 7 municipal election.

The race , which covers the east-central part of the city, features former mayor Ray Martinez and Nancy Tellez, a Poudre School District Board of Education member.

Both are longtime Fort Collins residents; both say they hope to serve on the council to continue serving the community and to make it a better place.

Martinez, a retired Fort Collins police sergeant, served as mayor from 1999 to 2005. He said part of his interest in getting back on council is to help heal the divisiveness he is seeing around the community.

If elected, Martinez said he would work to mend the city’s working relationships, including with Colorado State University and neighborhoods.

During a recent candidates’ forum sponsored by the Larimer County League of Women Voters, Martinez said he believes in collaboration and partnerships.

“This isn’t about us and them; this really is about community,” he said. “I really believe Fort Collins wants a sense of community, and that’s what it’s all about.”

Tellez, a retired teacher, said her focus if elected would be on preserving the quality of life in the community in the face of rapid growth.

Growth needs to be managed, Tellez said during an interview with the Coloradoan editorial board. She would support improved transit service to alleviate traffic congestion as well as the continued protection of open spaces and natural areas.

Tellez said she supports the “forward-looking approach” the city has taken in many of its planning efforts.

“The neighbors that I have talked to don’t want their taxes to pay for growth,” she said. “Growth will need to pay its own way as we continue down this path.”

Both candidates support continued economic development in Fort Collins, but from somewhat different approaches.

In a Coloradoan questionnaire, Martinez said he supports “reasonable” incentive packages to companies to bring primary jobs to the community. The city also should work closely with other governmental entities and the private sector to the local economy healthy.

Tellez said a good quality of life will serve to attract businesses and support those that are here. The city should focus on providing a “healthy environment and a safe, vibrant community” as a way to build a strong economy for all residents.

The candidates agree affordable housing is a major issue facing Fort Collins.

Wages for workers are not keeping up with increasing prices for housing, Tellez told the editorial board. Continued population growth increases the demand for housing and drives up prices.

Tellez, who serves on the Homeless Prevention Initiative Board, said the city should work with local builders and the business community to find solutions.

“Having housing that is affordable and works for people is important if they are going to live here and continue to work here,” she said. “That would be an issue that I would hope there would be further discussion about.”

Martinez said a big issue is affordability of living in Fort Collins, including rates charged by the city for utilities. An important factor is the cost the city adds to the price of a home through fees, he said.

The city is facing an affordability issue because it is a “great place to live” and offers the services and amenities people want. That’s “hard to stop,” Martinez said.

“This election is about growth as a community, not growth of the community,” he said.

The current council representative from District 2, Lisa Poppaw, is term-limited after eight years on council.

Kevin Duggan is a Coloradoan senior reporter covering local government. Follow him on Twitter, @coloradoan_dugg.

Fort Collins City Council candidates from District 2

Ray Martinez

•Age: 62

•Occupation: Consultant

•Education: Criminal justice degree

•Family: Single

•Years in Fort Collins: 58

•Civic experience: Retired police sergeant, served six years as mayor, currently on several nonprofit boards

•Website: www.rayforcouncil.com

Nancy Tellez

•Age: over 50

•Occupation: Retired educator with Poudre School District and CSU

•Education: Bachelor’s degree and teacher certification; master’s degree in curriculum and instruction

•Family: Two adult children and one grandchild

•Years in Fort Collins: 43

•Civic experience: Serving on PSD School Board since 2005, serving on Homelessness Prevention Initiative Board since 2009