Endorsements: Feldman, Hancock, Leider for Lincolnshire village board

In Lincolnshire, incumbents Karen Feldman, Mark Hancock and Gerard Leider are running, as is newcomer David Eastman II.

The village faces challenges related to occupancy rates in its large supply of corporate office space, updating aging infrastructure and obtaining development that won't destroy its character as a community that still has some of its rural charm while not adding to crowding in its desirable schools.

Karen Feldman, a real estate agent, threw her hat in the ring in 2009 as a write-in candidate, feeling a need to be active rather than complain about apathy when there was an open seat. She says it was a big learning curve, and she wants to make use of the knowledge and relationships she has built with residents, school officials and the Lincolnshire Sports Association to help make good decisions.

Hancock and Leider are facing their first election, having been appointed to fill vacancies. Both have business backgrounds that give them significant experience with boards and budgets, useful tools in finding ways to tackle village issues of increasing revenue to meet unfunded infrastructure needs in a fiscally responsible manner.

Eastman, an airline pilot, has the interest and ideas to make a good board member. But we see no reason to turn out the incumbents, given their varied backgrounds and levels of board experience. Feldman, Hancock and Leider are endorsed.