Endorsement: Knight for Wauconda village president

Teamwork and trust between Wauconda Mayor Frank Bart and the village board have been sorely lacking these past four years. Among other controversies, Bart was blamed for delaying plans to bring Lake Michigan drinking water to town, and the Central Lake County Joint Action Water Agency went so far as to refuse Wauconda membership until Bart agreed to let someone else serve as the town's representative.

Bart, who is not seeking re-election, backs Bryan Anderson to succeed him as Wauconda's village president. But the village is at an important juncture as the town works to keep the Lake Michigan water project moving forward and rebuild fractured relationships. In that climate, the best person to lead Wauconda is Anderson's opponent, Trustee Lincoln Knight.

With 12 years as a village trustee, Knight is the far more experienced and knowledgeable candidate. He helped get the Lake Michigan project back on track after the water agency broke off talks with Wauconda. Despite a bumpy history with Bart, Knight emphasizes moving forward over looking back. His idea to develop an economic advisory group, his emphasis on community involvement and his past as a hardworking member of the village board bolster the case for Knight as a positive force for leading Wauconda.

While Anderson is a personable candidate whose civic involvement includes membership on the village's police commission, he does not have Knight's experience, institutional knowledge or track record. Bart's departure paves the way for change, and Knight is the clear choice for leading Wauconda toward a cohesive, collaborative future.