Duncan, Julian and Lohmeyer for Barrington trustee

Voters in Barrington are fortunate to have four enthusiastic and knowledgeable candidates vying for three village board seats in the April 2 election.

The candidates are Kate Duncan, a lawyer specializing in land use and development who has served on Barrington's advisory zoning board of appeals and plan commission; Ryan Julian, a two-year incumbent and retired executive in telecommunications and financial services; Jason Lohmeyer, a four-year trustee, certified public accountant and director of finance at a health care company; and Emily Young, a community volunteer and development and communications manager at a behavioral health nonprofit. The winners will serve four-year terms.

The four candidates are like-minded on several major issues.

All of them back a planned railroad underpass on Route 14, for which several homes in Jewel Park already have been demolished.

All favored a 1 percentage point sales tax increase that failed to gain support in a November referendum and say the village still needs to find a way to get more money for infrastructure repairs and construction.

Though all of the candidates seem as if they would be good representatives, we give the edge to Duncan, Julian and Lohmeyer, who have teamed up to run as the Barrington Proud slate.

Their experience will benefit Barrington as longtime Village Manager Jeff Lawler and economic development Director Peg Blanchard prepare to retire. The three trustees to be seated in April will help to choose their replacements.

Young has good ideas, particularly for maximizing mental health resources in the village and for drawing new, young residents to Barrington - a crucial priority for many suburbs. We hope to see more of her and encourage her to put her name in for consideration for vacancies on village advisory boards and commissions, including one that might result if Duncan is elected as a village trustee.