Echevarria, Fountain and Spencer for U-46

It's rare to find a 21-year-old in politics. Especially one with poise, positivity and a straightforward approach to issues.

Yet Elgin Area School District U-46 has that in Kevin Echevarria, of Elgin, who is one of six people running for three, 4-year seats on the school board.

Echevarria graduated from Elgin High School just two years ago. He understands better than anyone running what an education in U-46 is all about. But he has the poise, smarts and interest involvement of someone much older. He was inspired to run after a conversation with Superintendent Jose Torres.

One of his goals is to ensure that the sweeping layoffs done in recent weeks in U-46 do not boil over into the classrooms and hurt the educational process. And he wants to address the high school dropout rate.

We feel that Echevarria would be able to connect more with the 41,000 students of U-46, since he is much closer in age to them. And the fact that he and 48 percent of the students in the district are Hispanic might also create a greater kinship between the board and the people it serves. He certainly has a grasp of why Hispanic parents and sometimes students are disconnected from the educational process.

Joyce Fountain, of Elgin, has been a member of the board for decades, and we've endorsed before. She brings an understanding of the workings and history of the district that can't be matched.

Of the remaining two incumbents seeking re-election, we endorse Dale Spencer, of Bartlett, over Donna Smith, of Hanover Park. Smith has served two terms, Spencer one.

Spencer is the more outspoken of the two, although we'd like to see him find an even stronger voice in the coming term.

Gary Percy, of Elgin, has done a lot of work leading up to his run for office. He served on the district's Citizen Advisory Council since 2004 and chaired its legislative committee.

Ed Stade is also running but did not fill out a questionnaire or participate in an editorial board interview.