Endorsements: Urlacher, Bohm, Maier and Brennan for Mettawa

With a population just above 500, Mettawa is one of Chicago's smallest suburbs, but there's a big and bitter fight brewing there over who should lead the affluent Lake County community. Village voters in the April 4 election will chose among candidates divided onto two slates - the Keeping Mettawa Green group led by Village President Casey Urlacher and three incumbent village trustees, and the Conserving Mettawa's Traditions slate, topped by mayoral hopeful Tom Lys.

In a twist, former village president Jess Ray, who supported Urlacher as his successor in the 2013 election, now endorses the Conserving Mettawa's Traditions candidates.

Given the rancor, it's perhaps ironic that candidates of both slates say they want the same things - to preserve the community's rural and equine-friendly atmosphere, to prevent the encroachment of suburban sprawl, and to keep the village's taxes in check and its finances stable.

Despite his opponent's assertions of mismanagement and shady dealings, there's little to suggest Urlacher has failed in this regard. Mettawa has added open space during his tenure, village assets are slightly higher than when he took office and property taxes have not risen in 18 years. We do give some pause over the fact that several of Urlacher's former backers are now mounting a challenge against him after just one term. And Lys raises fair questions about how the mayor and his brother were among the first to benefit from bringing Lake Michigan water to a portion of the village.

But while Lys, a business professor at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, is an intelligent and capable candidate, he fails to make a strong case for how he would do things better. The same could be said for his slate mates.

Candidates of both groups are qualified and passionate about Mettawa, but two stand out for their experience and ideas. Incumbent Trustee Denis Bohm has served in a variety of roles in village government and has good ideas about protecting land, such as conservation easements for open space. Fellow Trustee John Maier has a strong financial background that's proven an asset to the village board, and he indicates a commitment to keeping costs in check.

A case could be made for either Trustee Mary Brennan or former village clerk Cathy Nelson for the third trustee seat. Both have experience in village government and display a solid understanding of the town's circumstances. Brennan, however, gets a slight edge for offering clearer ideas about how to better the community.

Newcomers Bob Price and Terre Cohen Tripoli also are seeking village trustee seats.

We endorse Urlacher for village president and Bohm, Maier and Brennan for village trustee.