Endorsement: Hanson for Antioch mayor

Antioch Mayor Larry Hanson's bid for a third term faces a challenge from Trustee Jay Jozwiak, whom Hanson appointed to a vacant village board seat three years ago.

Hanson, 57, is a lifelong Antioch resident and local retail executive who served as a trustee for 14 years before being elected mayor in 2009. Jozwiak, 62, is a technical account manager who was elected trustee in 2009 and served four years before losing a re-election bid. He was elected in 2015 and is in the middle of his term. If Jozwiak wins, a replacement would be appointed; he remains a trustee if he loses.

Both see economic development in commercial corridors, including Route 173, and reinvigorating the quaint downtown as priorities. They disagree over the successes to date and the role of consultants.

Hanson is passionate about the village and optimistic about the future. Under Hanson, the village board has put in place tools to attract business, including creating a strategic plan and incentive package and buying some vacant land to market for development. He defends the use of consultants who have provided retail analysis, marketing, recruiting and other services.

He has also led the village board in guiding Antioch through the recession by cutting staff and raising fees. Budgets have been balanced, sales tax revenue is on the rise and a reserve fund has been built to help address an aging infrastructure.

Jozwiak has argued that consultants provide great presentations but no action plans and they need to be held accountable. He said the incentive package should have been created earlier.

Hanson has a track record of demonstrated leadership in several key issues facing the village and is endorsed for another term.