Endorsement: Lake Board Dist. 16

Four Lake County board candidates are seeking to represent their parties in the general election in District 16. Republican incumbent Bob Powers of Round Lake Beach is being challenged by Jeanne Goshgarian in the Feb. 5 GOP primary, and on the Democratic side Douglas Raul Williams of Hainesville is facing Terry Wilke of Round Lake Beach. District 16 includes Round Lake Beach, Round Lake, Hainesville and Round Lake Heights.

Powers, who works part time in a data entry position for a food store, has held the District 16 seat for six years, and when asked what he has accomplished, he says he is proud of helping area communities and agencies obtain community development block grants. While this is good work, we still would have hoped to hear more since we last endorsed him in 2004.

Goshgarian, a part-time attorney with a firm specializing in municipal law, served on the Round Lake Area Park District board for 20 years and is an impressive challenger. In an apparent nod to the perception Powers has not done enough, Goshgarian says she will offer "aggressive advocacy" for constituents. However, we would have liked to hear some specific areas in which she thinks Powers should have done more. And while we know Goshgarian is familiar with how government works, she would have done well to have attended county board meetings recently. We endorse Powers.

Wilke, an electrician, has been involved in local Democratic campaigns and says traffic is the most pressing issue. Williams, who is starting an insurance business, says property tax relief is his top issue. He has offered a specific idea for this in calling for a cap on property tax assessments. Williams gained valuable experience in working with public housing programs and the Hispanic community in Chicago.

Overall, Williams is more knowledgeable on county issues. We endorse Williams.