Endorsement: Burns for Geneva mayor

Strong leaders aren’t popular with every decision, and that’s part of what makes them good leaders. Incumbent Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns, no cookie-cutter politician, oversees a well-run city. Challenger Bob McQuillan, the founder of Geneva TaxFACTS and a Republican committeeman, would bring a fresh eye to city hall. He says he has a good feel for what’s going on in the city, and he believes Geneva needs to set a goal to increase non-utility revenue by 10 percent and reduce property taxes by 5 percent. Burns has served 12 years during which he ran unsuccessfully for two unrelated offices. He says being mayor is the most enjoyable job he’s ever had, primarily because he can have the biggest overall impact on the residents. During that time, the city weathered the economic downturn and worked diligently to fill empty storefronts. While we think the city should do everything it can to find a way to reduce the property tax burden, overall the city has done an admirable job, often with declining resources, to have a decade of balanced budgets. Burns is endorsed.