Endorsements: David, DiMaggio, Reiss for Hawthorn Woods village board

Experience or new blood? That's the choice voters face on April 2 in Hawthorn Woods, where five candidates are vying for three village board positions.

Incumbents Michael David, Dominick DiMaggio and Steve Reiss are all running to retain their seats. Meanwhile, newcomers Farah Laman and Ekwutosi Ufodike are hoping their push for new voices on the board strikes a chord with voters.

All five candidates express a rich appreciation for what Hawthorn Woods has to offer. They share similar views on many of the issues, including opposition to the Route 53 extension. Where they differ is in the experience they bring to the table.

Laman and Ufodike are intelligent, accomplished and passionate about Hawthorn Woods. Indeed, their enthusiasm for serving the village comes through quite clearly. But their community involvement is thus far limited. And while they both question whether the board has done enough to engage and interact with residents, neither has attended a village board meeting.

The three incumbents have years of experience among them and they've seen Hawthorn Woods through trying financial times. A little more than a decade ago, the village was grappling with budget shortfalls, layoffs and excessive spending under the former mayor. In short, the board inherited a difficult situation but "righted the ship," DiMaggio says.

They all now stress the village's zero-basis budgeting process, which forces department heads to justify what they request rather than starting with what they've received in the past.

The incumbents also apply a realistic approach to development. While residents might miss having a quaint downtown area, the trustees acknowledge that retail is uncertain and, at this time, Hawthorn Woods doesn't have the infrastructure or density to support developments of that kind.

David, DiMaggio and Reiss have served Hawthorn Woods well and earn our endorsement.