Soto best for Hainesville; Bonds, Duberstein, Daley for board

Creation of a village police department dominates the mayor's race in Hainesville, where eight-year incumbent Theodore "Ted" Mueller is challenged by Linda Soto, mayor from 1997 to 2001. Mueller engineered the birth of the new police department after a contract with Round Lake Park to share police services turned sour in a dispute over Hainesville's portion of the costs. Soto, who originated the pact with Round Lake Park, stops short of saying she'd disband the new police force but criticizes it as over budget and hastily planned without exploration of potential partnerships with others.

We endorse Soto for her cautious approach to such a costly village service and for her proposal for an updated review of future police department expenses and a long-term plan for facility requirements for all village departments. While hindsight is 20/20, Soto is right to question the collapse of the agreement with Round Lake Park. Government openness is Soto's second major campaign plank, and we support her call for clearer descriptions of items up for vote before the village board, less-strict adherence to a three-minute time limit for residents' comments at most board meetings, and reinstatement of monthly "committee of the whole" meetings where village business is discussed publicly before a vote.

Three village board seats also are up for election April 7. We endorse incumbent Deborah Lee Bonds, a capable trustee since 2005; Georgeann Duberstein, a six-year resident who attends board meetings, is active in the community and started an online forum for residents; and Gerry Daley, a 12-year resident and retired Mundelein High School assistant principal whose experience in administration and in negotiating contracts would be an asset.