For Sugar Grove board: Johnson, Geary, Paluch

Four candidates are vying for three seats on the Sugar Grove Village Board – incumbent trustees Mari Johnson and Kevin Geary, plan commissioner David Paluch, and resident Mark Buschbacher.

Sugar Grove, long viewed as a prime area for development, has weathered the economy well because its village board made tough decisions on staff and expense reductions when budget red flags first arose.

The board has handled the complex, two-year issue of Mallard Point subdivision flooding in such a way as to secure federal and county funding to ease the load on village and Mallard Point residents.

Johnson and Geary have been part of this process, showing vast knowledge of current village issues and future challenges. They deserve to remain on the board.

Buschbacher and Paluch each have a keen awareness of village business, and Sugar Grove would be well served by either. But Paluch is the better choice by virtue of his commitment to the plan commission and attending board meetings, giving him a significant edge in understanding board chemistry and issues.