Elgin incumbents continue commitment to a good plan

Since the Grand Victoria Casino came to Elgin, city leaders have been on a mission: To re-establish the city's once vibrant downtown. To do that, the village has invested millions in casino taxes in streetlights and road improvements, incentives to businesses that moved or expanded to the downtown and those who built upscale housing downtown. All to draw more people with disposable income to the city, which, in turn would draw more tax-generating business to town and benefits all Elginites.

It was Elgin's bad luck that the economy has put much of that vision on hold.

You either subscribe to that theory of revitalization or you don't.

We do, and that's why we endorse incumbents Bob Gilliam, Juan Figueroa and John Walters, who see and support the long view to Elgin's revitalization, for three, 4-year terms on the council.

We supported Mike Warren for the lone two-year seat before the February primary, and we reprise our endorsement of the primary's leading vote-getter.

Of the remaining six candidates for the 4-year terms, Richard Dunne shows the most promise. He was the first president of the Near West Neighborhood Association and speaks well on all major issues. But as a longtime employee of the city's fire department there would be natural conflicts that would arise whenever the council dealt with the fire department. Even if it is legal for him to hold the job and council seat, we don't think it is a good idea.

Lenora Scruggs and Linda Quezada say the council needs greater transparency and that they would be watchdogs on the council, but their knowledge base on the workings of the city is limited.

Bruce Trego, who spent 30 years in municipal administration elsewhere, feels that the city's efforts to improve the downtown are a smoke screen for getting rid of its poor people.

We are satisfied with the steps Elgin has taken to address the illegal immigration issue by ensuring that the city and its large contractors do not employ illegal immigrants and that when a foreign born person is arrested that his immigration status is checked.

We feel John Prigge's views on the city's role in combating illegal immigration are extreme.

Also running for 4-year terms are Shane Nowak and Brenda Harris Khan.