For West Aurora District 129: Herget, Perez, Smith, Thompson

Voters in West Aurora Unit District 129 have five solid candidates from which to choose. Three incumbents are running for four 4-year seats. They are Allyson Herget, 60, a student teacher supervisor; Maricela Perez, 45, a nurse practitioner; and Angela Smith, 42, a school district finance manager. Also running are two challengers: Robert Gonzalez, 52, an insurance agent; and Amie Thompson, 47, seventh-grade science teacher.

Test scores within the district are a concern, and some board members are advocates for federal changes to the No Child Left Behind law. The incumbents are in tune with the unique needs of a very diverse student population, and Herget, Perez and Smith are endorsed. We give the nod to Thompson for the fourth seat as her background in education would fit well on this board.