Endorsements: Grieb, Koch, Schultz, Quille for Vernon Hills village board

Six candidates are running for three seats on the Vernon Hills village board 4-year term, and two candidates are running for one seat on the board's 2-year term.

For the 4-year term, incumbents Tim Grieb, Thom Koch Jr. and James Schultz are seeking re-election. They are challenged by Timothy Nockels, Alessandro Serra and Craig Takaoka, who say the village needs a fresh start with new leadership and more transparency.

All three challengers are likable and bring good ideas to the table. Their concerns include worries about the village's finances, a desire for more diversity in retail and the need to get more input from residents.

But the village is in excellent financial standing. There are plenty of restaurants and entertainment options in town to balance the retail and big-box stores. And all meetings are broadcast and minutes are available to residents. New ideas are good, but if what the village has been doing works and the majority of residents are happy, it suggests the community's leaders are doing something right.

The three incumbents have solid experience and insight that has proved effective in Vernon Hills. Grieb, Koch and Schultz get our endorsement.

For the two-year term, newcomers David Oppenheim and Tom Quille are facing off. We endorse Quille. Not only does he offer solid ideas for moving Vernon Hills forward, but he shares the vision of current board members and seems poised to work well with them in the future, while maintaining his independence when circumstances call for it. He has experience on the village's police commission, and he understands how state and local entities must work together on issues such as property taxes and road maintenance.

Oppenheim also wants to bring a fresh start to the board. But a fresh start must begin with fresh and detailed ideas. Oppenheim seems more focused on complaints about the current board, rather than solutions to the problems he sees.

We like the new perspective Quille brings to the table, along with his ability to work with the experienced members of the board - Grieb, Koch and Schultz. These four get our endorsement.