After dealing with the same issues time and time again, from homelessness to the plight of small businesses, Berkeley City Council needs a fresh face to offer creative solutions. That face is Ben Gould.

Gould, at 25, is significantly younger and less experienced with Berkeley politics than his primary opponent, Kate Harrison. But through his campaign for mayor, his work on various city commissions and his graduate-student perspective, Gould has developed a strong plan for fixing what he believes are the city’s biggest problems.

His platforms include a path to a living wage and increased environmental sustainability. Gould has set himself apart from his opponent by laying out concrete, data-driven approaches to solving some of the city’s problems, demonstrating foresight beyond his years.

He has discussed plans to create permanent housing to alleviate the homelessness situation in the city. He has specific policies on police reform. He wants to tear down obstacles for small businesses to expand.

Repeating a sentiment in The Daily Californian’s second-rank endorsement for Gould as mayor, there is no better candidate when it comes to environmental issues. His would be a much-valued perspective for the city.

His climate adaption plan, which includes ways to handle increased stormwater and develop sustainability requirements for new construction, displays a strong understanding of climate-change problems and how Berkeley should address them moving forward.

As a student, Gould would also represent one-third of the population of Berkeley — a UC Berkeley student hasn’t sat on the council since Nancy Skinner from 1984-92. For a student to sit on the council would not only be a historic achievement but would also broaden the topics that merit discussion.

The day-to-day issues that students face often differ from those of typical City Council members, who work steady jobs, own cars and don’t undergo constant searches for housing. The shortage of affordable housing is especially felt by students, represented on the council in theory but rarely in practice. Having a tenacious graduate student who understands how other parts of Berkeley live would be an invaluable asset for the UC Berkeley community down the line.

Regardless of the results of this election, however, District 4 will get a solid representative. Throughout her years of community service, Harrison has proved herself a committed and respectable candidate who would bring years of experience to the job. Furthermore, as a longtime resident of Berkeley, Harrison is keenly aware of the unique values of the city and would work to preserve them while also solving new problems.

At the end of the day, Gould represents the future. He would go into office with well-thought-out fixes for the city’s biggest problems and would represent the concerns and priorities of the student body.

Editorials represent the majority opinion of the Editorial Board as written by the opinion editor.