Endorsements: Borys, Wachs, Jacob for Long Grove

Long Grove is at a turning point in its history. The next village board will need to work with a major new investor in its severely struggling downtown to chart a course for the future. It will need to weigh questions of the downtown's purpose, design, marketing and perhaps most importantly, how much help the village should provide private investors in a town that believes in minimalist government.

Perhaps that's why two slates have emerged, each headed by an incumbent trustee. One slate has been endorsed by many of Long Grove's current and former officials and by the downtown investor, the Forsythe family. The other slate is more skeptical of the role of the Forsythes, and its members say they want more openness and transparency in the discussion about the downtown.

The balancing act moving ahead is to have a village board that will ask tough questions and be a responsible steward of taxpayer money, but not, through animus or obstruction, drive away the investors the downtown needs.

All six candidates are more than qualified to serve, and while their visions are different, we have no doubt all want what is best for the village. Electing one slate, though, could result in a board too cozy, while electing the other could result in a board too skeptical or too divided.

We endorse incumbents Charlie L. Wachs and Stanley Borys, as people who speak well to the varying views of the way forward. And we endorse Bill Jacob, whose answers to our questions indicated he has put a lot of thought into how to make Long Grove a better place and who has substantial experience in service through his work with his homeowners association and participation in village infrastructure workshops. Also running are Stan Razny, Michael Sarlitto and Steven Sintetas. Whoever wins, we urge all elected to work toward compromise to find the best way forward.