Endorsements of Elgin incumbents out of sync

In your endorsement of the sitting Elgin City Council members you have defied your own objective positions, stating often in the past that you are in favor of term limits. Yet, you endorse three incumbents who have been on the council for a combined 65 years.

Challenger Rich Dunne is concerned about our citizens and how they have been left vulnerable to the current economic climate as a result of the council's expansionist policies. The very members you endorse are in favor of these policies and often voted for them without holding any discussion. To vote without discussion or debate has been a disservice to residents and has precluded any real consideration for the improvement of the services necessary to protect many of these new developments. That is why many of our roads don't get plowed in the winter, certain subdivisions have inadequate water supplies and police and fire response times are much higher than the national standards.

If the councilmen whom you endorse had opened many of these decisions to discussion, perhaps Elgin's expansionism would have occurred more wisely. This newspaper needs to be mindful of the rubber stamp style of government these councilmen have so long espoused. After all, it is this style of governing that has led Elgin to the significant budgetary complications that will challenge our city.

Gary Joy

Elgin