Endorsements: Faber, Gaffino, Lowery for North Aurora village board

Three seats are available for the North Aurora village board on April 9, and the two incumbents seeking re-election have earned another four years. Christopher Faber, 33, is a first-term trustee who stepped up to get involved in North Aurora almost immediately after moving there. Prior to his election as trustee he served for three years as a plan commissioner. That experience is crucial as the village looks to entice more business to town. Mark Gaffino, 52, has been a trustee even longer, since 2005. What’s most refreshing about this lifelong resident of North Aurora is his admission that he is willing to look at suggestions that perhaps years ago he wouldn’t have. Too often elected officials are unwilling to listen to new ideas, so that kind of personal growth is important. Both of the incumbents care deeply about the village, and they earn our endorsement. Vying for the third seat are newcomers Michael Lowery, a 68-year-old retired psychologist with the state of Illinois, and Allen Cavender, 49, who works as a residence counselor with the Illinois Department of Corrections. We give the nod to Lowery, whose enthusiasm for the community and for working on the board matches that of the two incumbents. He, as do the incumbents, would like to see the look of the Route 31 business corridor improved as one way to bring in more economic development.