For the past 14 years, Sandra L. Frankel has demonstrated that she possesses the leadership qualities needed to guide one of Monroe County's most dynamic towns. Her record alone makes Frankel the Democrat and Chronicle's choice for re-election as Brighton supervisor in the Nov. 8 general election.

Frankel, a Democrat, again is being challenged by Wes McAllister, a Republican also running on the Conservative line. As we pointed out two years ago when McAllister made his first bid to unseat Frankel, who also is running on the Working Families line, his credentials certainly qualify him for the supervisor's job.

McAllister served as city manager in a Detroit suburb for 11 years before moving to Brighton four years ago, and he has held similar jobs in Jackson, Mich., and Casper, Wyo.

The problem for McAllister, however, continues to be his inability to make a strong enough case for unseating Frankel. Her fiscal management record includes having held average annual property tax increases to 2.41 percent for the past 12 years.

Among Frankel's goals for an eighth term is completion of a 376-acre town park system approved in a 2002 referendum. Her desire to do so is at the core of a costly dispute over land that the Faith Temple church wants for a planned development. So far, the dispute has cost Brighton taxpayers $180,000 in legal fees.

Frankel should use her considerable leadership skills to help reach a settlement. This, of course, assumes that Faith Temple is amenable. Meanwhile, Frankel deserves another term.