Six candidates running for one American Canyon City Council seat are set to square off Tuesday at a candidates' forum.

The race is the most contested political seat in Napa Valley this June, when a bevy of other county posts and two controversial measures are set to join the contest on the American Canyon ballot.

But given the city's reputation as one of the fastest growing cities in the state and all the issues its rapid growth raises, the addition of a new city council member will influence the way the city does business in the future.

Angling for the spot are a diverse field of candidates: Former founding city council member Joan Bennett; businessman and chiropractor Paul McGuire; businessman Bill Russell; Napa Valley College student and aspiring lawyer James Walker; Napa County Department of Corrections Cpl. Ed West; and state Department of Industrial Relations Deputy Labor Commissioner John Miller.

Although the candidates may differ on their approaches, one thing is likely to remain the same.

"The main issue is growth," Walker said.

In his case, Walker, 18, wants to slow the pace of construction, but he's no anti-growth candidate. He wants to give special consideration for whether the city has enough water, roads, cops, schools and other infrastructure to handle the influx of new homes and businesses.

"Because American Canyon is growing at such a fast rate, we need to monitor the growth ... you have to do it in an accountable way and you have to do it slow."

Russell, 62, said the city isn't managing growth responsibly.

"I think it needs to be slowed down," he said. "Slowed down to enable resources and city services to catch up."

Russell ran for council in 2004, but he sees this election differently.

"I've grown since the last election and recognized the need of the city (for) a city councilperson, a need that I don't think is being fulfilled correctly," he said. "I don't see anybody on the City Council who is saying anything other than 'yes.' They're rubber stamping everything."

Bennett also ran for election in 2004. Although she was unable to be contacted for this article, in the past Bennett has advocated slow growth policies.

"I think the city has been way too pro-growth," she said in the 2004 election, adding infrastructure needs to be looked at closely. "I don't think there's anybody in the community that isn't concerned about traffic and I don't think there's anybody in the community that doesn't think we need a high school."

West is running to change the way the City Council works, but also to manage the city's growing infrastructure and tax base.

"I'm trying to offer someone who's level-headed," he said. "I have no cliques ... I'm (running) because I grew up in American Canyon. I've been here since 1961."

West wants to avoid the council controversies of the past, namely when former councilwoman Lori Luporini resigned over allegations she lived outside the city. Her absence created the need for the June election.

West said he has a community code of conduct that he said he will unveil at Tuesday's forum.

West may be a familiar name to some because of publicity surrounding his son, Lance Cpl. Phillip West, who was killed in Iraq a year and a half ago.