Endorsement: Lauzen over Klinkhamer for Kane County Board chairman

With the entire Kane County Board up for election, change is in the air, and voters have two qualified chairman candidates from whom to choose. The résumés of Democrat Sue Klinkhamer and Republican Chris Lauzen feature an abundance of government experience. We like Klinkhamer’s commitment to forgoing campaign contributions in this race. And we like the former St. Charles mayor’s independence, though she’s bucked her own party at times and butted heads with board members and other Democratic candidates. Aurora state Sen. Lauzen, too, has had clashes with his party. But the county chairmanship is not a popularity contest about who’s most warm and fuzzy and least socially off-putting. It’s about leadership and making wise money decisions. We endorse Lauzen because of his appealing overall platform and because financial smarts are what’s needed in Kane County today. Unlike Klinkhamer, Lauzen supports a freeze on the property tax levy. He knows taxpayers are enduring lean times and expect their government to do likewise. He promises a “head-to-toe inspection” of all departments to eliminate redundancies and identify efficiencies. He also supports ending even the perception of cronyism.