The Soapbox: Thanks, mayors
In the wake of this month’s elections, the names on the desks of mayors and village presidents in several suburbs are changing. Today we recognize the efforts of those leaving office.
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Ed Schock has been Elgin’s mayor for 12 years, a time that has seen an enormous, yet stunted, push westward, gentrification of a broad swath of the downtown and a ramp-up of the city’s high-tech manufacturing base. Schock’s big picture view of Elgin has helped improve the city’s reputation in the suburbs, and we congratulate him.
Calm in the storm:
Ken Nelson didn’t have a smooth sail for eight years as Rolling Meadows mayor, and he isn’t leaving the city in the kind of financial shape he would have liked — the economy saw to that. But Nelson is a gentleman who ensured that city workers didn’t feel they’d gotten their pockets picked after making concessions, and he tried to keep the board focused.
Some rough spots:
John Craig’s lone term as Oak Brook village president ended on a decidedly sour note. But his love for the town, and his interest in looking out for the taxpayer, struck us as genuine.
Goodbye, Dolly:
Dolores “Dolly” Vole had a turbulent two years as mayor before Prospect Heights voters decided to change direction. But undeniably her most notable achievement was the $15 million tax increase for road repairs that voters approved last November. It will be a while until Vole’s legacy is truly known, but getting the roads fixed will surely be a positive.
Ushering in a new era:
Clint Carey can be considered Pingree Grove’s first modern-day mayor. But after just one term, Carey decided not to run again. His legacy includes a police department and a more professional feel around village hall.
Quiet competence:
While his last years were marred by fights with since-recalled Trustee Lisa Stone, Buffalo Grove’s Elliott Hartstein built a record mostly of quiet accomplishment during 12 years as village president. He maintained the village’s outstanding financial rating and secured funds for various road improvement projects.
Consider the good:
Outgoing Wood Dale Mayor Ken Johnson drew well-deserved criticism for tapping into the city coffers for an interest-free loan. But it was a blemish on an otherwise decent record. Wood Dale is among few towns to avoid layoffs as the economy tanked. On Johnson’s watch, Prairie Fest was expanded and a new Metra station was built.
Smoothing the bumps:
When Bruce Sauer was elected North Barrington’s village president in 2005, he worked for calm after the town’s public battles with a mall developer and with state officials wanting to widen Route 22. An advocate for conservation, he also oversaw the village’s first 10-year road plan and a controversial measure to stop demolition of small homes.
Remember, every vote does count:
Trustee races in Island Lake and Green Oaks that ended in ties were settled by flipping coins this week. In Barrington Unit District 220, another race was decided by a single vote. And to think, most of us didn’t bother to help choose who will spend millions of our tax dollars.