Pay no attention to Herald endorsements

The Daily Herald's endorsements for the Geneva City Council are patently haphazard and unreliable and do our community a disservice.

I was surprised by the unsupported reference to "the strength of Seno's experience," since having attended city council meetings for the last several months, I have rarely heard her speak other than to second a motion. By contrast, I have learned from 3rd Ward candidate Hruby's performance at the recent candidate forum and conversations with her that she is actively engaging with numerous issues and I would expect her to bring that same active engagement to City Council.

The reason 4th Ward voters keep bring Singer back is apparently because they had no other choice. No one has challenged Singer in an election - at least not in recent history. I know from city council and the candidate forum that Singer frequently engages in personal attacks and self-aggrandizement, not "insight on government issues." The 4th Ward can do better. McGowan, on her website and at the forum, offers specific, reasoned stances on issues.

Finally, the most egregious endorsement given by the Daily Herald was for the 5th Ward. Although it was a "close call," the editors deem Warlick preferable for his "stringent anti-tax message." This reasoning contradicts the paper's endorsement of Clements, who supports the Places for Eating Tax. At the recent candidate forum, Warlick insulted a citizen's question and demonstrated he lacked the right temperament to serve in our government. By contrast, it was clear from Swanson's impressive performance at the candidate forum that he offers extremely thoughtful and well-informed perspectives that go so much deeper than Warlick's superficial and even xenophobic responses.

I encourage the citizens of Geneva to do their homework and not rely on the Daily Herald's unsound work before voting on April 4.

Anaïs Miodek Bowring

Geneva