Endorsements: Howe, Morino, Schlick for Wauconda village board

One Wauconda? Or Wauconda Forward? The slates running for Wauconda village board offer voters clear choices - on issues, on experience, even on their feelings about controversial outgoing Mayor Frank Bart. And while we often pick and choose among those running as a team, the Wauconda Forward candidates, running with mayoral candidate Lincoln Knight, are so strong that the village would be best served by electing all three: incumbent Tim Howe, technology executive Richard Morino and outgoing Wauconda park board member Adam Schlick.

Howe, an attorney who has served on the board for two years, understands the challenges of economic development and what needs to be done as Wauconda moves forward on the Lake Michigan water project. His call for a full-time economic development director deserves study. Morino's emphasis on building consensus and his analytical mindset will serve the board well, as would Schlick's experience serving on the park board and working for the Wauconda Fire District. Both bring enthusiasm and new ideas to the table.

Their opponents on the One Wauconda slate - newcomers Joe Lewis, Mike Silverman and Dan Casper - stand firmly behind Bart despite the contentious nature of his tenure. They talk about the need for economic development, but they offer no concrete ideas about attracting business. They stress that they are not politicians and advocate for term limits, but they lack the experience and grasp of the issues evident in the Wauconda Forward slate.

We endorse Howe, Morino and Schlick.