For Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, Democratic: Spyropoulos, Connor, Davis

For Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, Democratic: Spyropoulos, Connor, Davis

Water has been making the news lately.

Long-term flood-control projects, such as Levee 37 along the west bank of the Des Plaines River, are still being debated and funding for projects like these still need to be secured.

A county ordinance expanding the district's influence over new development has suburban leaders nervous about its economic impact.

And the Asian Carp has prompted a lawsuit against Illinois by several states that could have major consequences for the district's future.

The district needs to be able to pivot between the work of today and the environmental challenges of tomorrow. But we also need that work to be done in a financially responsible way.

In the Democratic primary, nine candidates are competing for the party's nomination to three seats on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District board. We believe the environmental background of incumbent Mariyana Spyropoulos is the kind of resource the district needs. We also agree with her views on cost savings such as reducing the size of the board.

Newcomer Todd Connor has demonstrated interest about the financial affairs of the board and his experience with the state's Inspector General's office should be an asset.

And as a superintendent for the city's water department, Wallace Davis III also brings the right kind of experience to the table as well as an emphasis on green infrastructure.