For Algonquin village board: Spella, Sosine, Steigert

At a time when the village is facing challenges both common among suburban municipalities and unique, such as the Riverside Square mess, the race for three seats on the Algonquin Village Board has drawn a field that includes incumbent trustees John Spella, Debby Sosine and Jim Steigert and a pair of passionate challengers, Ken Fishleigh, a local real estate professional and longtime Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire trustee, and Michael Stratejcruk. One would be hard-pressed not to admire Stratejcruk’s sincerity and fervor, but he lacks experience and knowledge of local government. Fishleigh’s awareness of the local real estate market would serve the board well, but we have concerns about his intense focus on the village’s east side and willingness to lower aesthetic standards as a business incentive. That leaves us to endorse the incumbents. All three show a keen understanding of the village’s needs and preach fiscal restraint, as well as pragmatic views on the sometimes overplayed East-West split of the town.