Philadelphia's next chief executive will need more than the support of a cooperative and focused City Council. He'll also need a smart and imaginative Council to move the city from the level of just surviving to actually thriving.

It's a challenge that could be led by the city's at-large candidates for Council, who represent all of Philadelphia's neighborhoods. Democrats have nominated five candidates; Republicans, four. D. Dexter Watson, a former aide to U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, is running as an independent. Voters can vote for five candidates for seven at-large seats.

The Inquirer endorses incumbent Democrats JAMES F. KENNEY and ANGEL ORTIZ and incumbent Republican FRANK RIZZO. Democratic challengers BLONDELL REYNOLDS-BROWN and WILSON GOODE JR. also get an enthusiastic nod.

One of the most promising first-time challengers is Ms. Reynolds-Brown, who said she could work either with a Democratic Mayor Street or a Republican Mayor Katz. "Gridlock would be completely unacceptable, and I would be a bridge-builder," she said.

The candidate promises to bring to Council a strong social conscience mixed with a practical interest in expanding the city's financial base. A former city schoolteacher and one-time legislative aide to U.S. Rep. Chaka Fatah, Ms. Reynolds-Brown said she would like to see "an office of child-care located in the city Department of Commerce," expanded after-school programs, and a flame burning for cultural issues on Council.

There has been a welcome flame kept burning on Council by Mr. Kenney to make neighborhoods throughout the city livable and family friendly. During two terms, he has championed efforts to limit the number of takeout beer delis and ubiquitous check-cashing establishments, and to rid neighborhoods of prostitution and sidewalk sleepers.

Mr. Kenney, who rightly believes fixing the schools is critical to the city's future, has too much faith in proposed voucher programs because he believes it could "keep the struggling parochial school system alive." But the councilman rightly agrees that the status quo has to be replaced with an ambitious plan for the city that includes school reform and tax-ratable expansion to stop the exodus of residents and jobs.

Mr. Ortiz also works hard on neighborhood issues, including a perennial need to remove abandoned and wrecked autos from city streets. The councilman is still a valuable force in the Hispanic community in trying to create a cultural arts center and after-school learning program for children.

Democratic challenger Goode, who seemed stiffly on-message during his party's primary, appears to have matured and is willing to speak more freely and smartly on critical issues. He thinks the schools need a "shake-up," and that teachers' union contract changes are needed to allow school principals to better manage and upgrade learning.

Among the less-than-inspiring Republican candidates, incumbent Frank Rizzo joins Mr. Ortiz in his focused concern about abandoned cars and his strong constituent services. He joined a tough vote to keep the homeless from undermining the city's tourist industry, while supporting efforts to ensure they found some comfort.

One GOP councilwoman-in-waiting, 28-year-old Toni Green, has worked as executive director of a chamber of small businesses in West Philadelphia to help expand membership and investment in that area. Though she still needs more seasoning before gaining a Council seat, Ms. Green's interest in expanding the opportunities for young business entrepreneurs is a worthy cause.

Likewise, Republican Jamie McDermott needs more time with the issues to become a promising candidate.

It's difficult not to endorse Philadelphia's own charismatic, Republican five-term Councilman W. Thacher Longstreth. But Mr. Longstreth, an Alf Landon Republican, and six-term liberal Councilman David Cohen, a Roosevelt Democrat, need to take a bow for their service to their city and allow more energetic representatives to move Philadelphia forward.