For Rick Schroff, the Corvallis City Council is teetering on the edge of an imbalance, with local business interests going under-represented in city leadership.

The word he repeats is "balance," and said he's running for council to speak for the city's economic interests.

"I don't think they really have a strong voice on the council," he said. "Economic vitality is equally important to all wards in town and I hope Ward 7 voters understand that."

A former executive with a Houston-based oil industry supply company, Schroff's father and uncle were long-time residents here.

When his father decided to retire from selling insurance in 2004, Schroff brought his family to Corvallis and took over the family insurance agency.

As a business owner, Schroff said the city is right to make attracting more economic options a priority but the concept of sustainability cuts both ways.

On the one hand, he said, it's important to be good stewards. On the other, it can be used to exclude people from living and working here.

"We can't become a community of retirees and higher educators because eventually, you'll see that lifestyle decline," he said. "Let's get the whole range of society involved in Corvallis."

The city's Prosperity that Fits plan calls for balancing economic, social and environmental needs around the city. For Schroff, the economic part needs more of a voice in city government.

He cited the recent Planning Commission decision to block a low-income housing project in northeast Corvallis as proof of an imbalance in city leadership between what's good for the environment and what's good for people.

"The true meaning of sustainability has been co-opted to become more of an obstruction than a guideline," Schroff said. "When a governing body sends mixed signals like that it doesn't help anyone."

That also leads Schroff to conclude that the council shouldn't be spending energy on resolutions outside its purview.

Resolutions opposing changes in federal logging are acceptable, he said, because it has a direct affect on the city's aquifer. Those promoting a federal department of peace - as suggested at Monday's council meeting - are beyond the council's scope.

"The council needs to focus on city business," he said. "Our primary focus should be on city services."

Matt Neznanski can be reached at 758-9518 or matt.neznanski@lee.net.