Endorsements: Lang, Papantos, Vogel for Wheeling village board

The contest for Wheeling village board initially featured four candidates for three seats, became uncontested when longtime and beloved Trustee Bob Heer died unexpectedly, then became contested again when the man who the board picked to fill the vacancy decided to throw his hat in the ring as a write-in candidate.

The candidates are incumbents Ray Lang and Dave Vogel, twice-unsuccessful challenger Mary M. Papantos and appointee Joe Vito. The three candidates currently in office are running together.

We endorsed Lang and Vogel four years ago, and we continue to see them as strong and effective leaders.

Papantos is an outsider who raises questions about current policies related to economic development, and is a strong opponent of extended runways at the municipally-owned Chicago Executive Airport. She also shows extensive knowledge of village affairs and attends meetings regularly.

She has lost by fewer than 200 votes in each of the last two elections. We think she would ask needed questions. We endorsed her two years ago and we do so again.

Vito, a generation younger than the others, touts his position as a voice for families raising children in Wheeling as one of his assets, and he has good ideas on new approaches to encourage economic development. We would like to see him stay involved and run again.