For DuPage County Forest Preserve District 4, Democratic: Kirchenberg

For DuPage County Forest Preserve District 4, Democratic: Kirchenberg

A pair of relative newcomers to the political scene - Eric Bergman and Donald Kirchenberg - are seeking the Democratic endorsement in the Feb. 2 primary for a four-year term in DuPage Forest Preserve District 4. Both have roots in green initiatives in DuPage - Bergman fought the removal of trees in Glen Ellyn's Ackerman Park and Kirchenberg is a longtime Illinois Prairie Path board member - and appear committed to the preservation and protection of open space. Both are correct when they say the commission must improve its communication with residents, especially in the wake of disputes over the placement of a maintenance facility in Blackwell Forest Preserve and the debate over the Navistar site in Lisle.

While both would bring a fresh perspective, we endorse Kirchenberg because he has been active considerably longer than his opponent and because we think he could function better as a political outsider on the GOP-dominated commission.

District 4 covers all or portions of Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Carol Stream, Winfield, Glendale Heights and Lombard.