In Arlington: Mulder and Breyer, Farwell, Rosenberg, Glasgow

The campaigns for municipal offices in Arlington Heights have been unusually feisty, no doubt fueled at least in part by widespread concerns about the economy.

Village hall may have little to do with Wall Street and global economic problems, but that doesn't lessen the anger many of us feel about those problems. Unfortunately, when it comes to politics, that anger can be misdirected - particularly against incumbent office holders.

In the case of Arlington Heights village government, that not only would be unfair. It would be a shame for the community.

Arlington Heights is a model for the Northwest suburbs, a jewel that leaders in other suburbs envy and try to copy.

Under the leadership of Village President Arlene Mulder over the past 16 years, and with the help of a thoughtful and hardworking village board, the community has been transformed into a vibrant, dynamic, cosmopolitan suburb - with an active downtown that provides an engaging identity, reasonable building standards that maintain property values even in challenging economic times, safe neighborhoods and a sense of community that's characterized by volunteerism and friendliness.

This is a reasoned and thoughtful board that listens. It's not always perfect. No board is. But it listens. And does so better than most government boards.

We strongly endorse Arlene Mulder for village president. She works exhaustively for the community and deserves another term.

For four seats on the village board, we endorse incumbent trustees Norman Breyer, Joseph Farwell and Bert Rosenberg as well as former zoning board Chairman Thomas Glasgow.