Lakemoor candidates promise smart budgeting, development

Accountability, fiscal responsibility and development are considered the most important goals and objectives by candidates running for Lakemoor village president. Voters will select from two current trustees and one newcomer to fill the 4-year position on the April 7 ballot.

The race pits former president and current trustee Robert Koehl, 45, a manager of litigation and accounting, against trustee and self-employed business owner Ralph Brindise, 60, and newcomer Ryan Weihofen, 33, a vice-president from Maverick Pools.

They are running for the seat currently occupied by Virginia Povidas, who is not seeking re-election.

The candidates were asked their views in Daily Herald questionnaires and editorial board interviews.

Weihofen said the village president should have an open-door policy, developers should be encouraged more to build in Lakemoor and more accountability is needed among employees and elected officials.

"We need to hold our employees and elected officials to a high standard," he said. "People should be able to contact the elected officials, and they have a right to know what's going on in their community."

Brindise said fiscal responsibility in the slower economic climate will be challenging in the future, and the board needs to work together to curtail spending.

"We need more commercial development to come to Lakemoor, which will bring in more revenue from sales tax," he said. "I would talk with some of the developers who have shown an interest in the past and work toward coming to an agreement that would benefit both the village and interested parties."

Koehl said restructuring how the village spends its money, and new and expanded economic development can help offset a lack of revenue the village is seeing.

"We need to plan and have a better idea of what we would like Lakemoor to be and then work toward these goals," Koehl said. "This way, when the economy improves, we will be better prepared."