Endorsements: Hanley, Wilbrandt, Pflanz for West Dundee trustee

With two board members retiring and a third running for mayor — and another empty seat filled by appointment in January — the makeup of the West Dundee village board could change dramatically after April 9. And that could have an impact on how the village deals with a declining sales tax revenues resulting from the loss of several businesses in the Spring Hill Mall area and downtown. Four candidates seek one of the three open board seats. Three-term incumbent Patrick Hanley has demonstrated the type of responsibility needed to make the tough decisions and deserves re-election. Of the newcomers, we favor Dan Wilbrandt and William R. Pflanz. Wilbrandt, an attorney, has focused his campaign on taking a conservative approach on fiscal matters as the village looks to improve its business climate. While Pflanz may have less life experience than candidate Darren Parochelli, the 25-year-old pharmacy technician understands the need for reigniting economic development in town while keeping village spending in check and maintaining services at a high-quality level. He also has a vision for making West Dundee more attractive to young families, a perspective that may well be suited for the next village board.