Endorsement: Bevier for Warrenville City Council Ward 1

Voters fortunate enough to live within Warrenville's First Ward have a tough decision to make.

Both candidates for the city council are smart, involved individuals who respect and even admire each other. The tough decision comes when having to choose between these two qualified candidates.

Incumbent Fred Bevier has been on the council for 12 years. He talks knowledgeably about issues such as flood-alleviation efforts and the redevelopment of property at Warrenville and Batavia roads.

Challenger Constance Schmidt, a retired teacher, is smart and does her research. She's also a good listener and would more than adequately represent the concerns of residents.

An issue that might distinguish the two for voters is the closed gas station at Warrenville and Batavia roads, on which both candidates hold well-reasoned positions. Bevier is opposed to purchasing the property until more is known about the costs of cleaning up a decades-old leak from an underground tank. Schmidt supports the city purchasing property to spur development and would vote to purchase the gas station if she were on the board.

Either candidate would be a good choice to serve on Warrenville's city council. But Bevier's experience on the council gives him the edge, and he gets our endorsement.