Ward for South Elgin village president

There is no doubting the passion South Elgin Village President Steve Ward's opponents in the April 4 election have for their community, or their strong belief that they are best suited to tackle its challenges. Longtime village Trustee Lisa Guess and former Trustee Bill DiFulvio both care deeply about the village, and have sharp criticism for the way Ward, a first-term mayor, is leading it. Guess, a trustee since 2013, says she'd be a stronger leader than Ward and dedicates more time to working in village hall. DiFulvio pointedly disagrees with Ward's willingness to consider affordable senior housing near the village's downtown, and questions the hiring of an assistant village administrator.

However, under closer scrutiny, many of the criticisms of Ward either fall flat or seem much ado about nothing. His opponents question the strength of his leadership, but offer no tangible examples of where he's come up short on a meaningful matter. They question his vision for downtown, but provide few clear alternatives for doing things differently.

Ward is running on his record, which includes the hiring of three new leaders of village departments, the completion of a new public works facility on time and under budget, and his work to bring the Illinois Department of Transportation on board with plans to improve McLean Boulevard. We also like his idea of investing available village funds into infrastructure rather than building up excessive reserves. We endorse Ward for a second term.