Endorsement: Veenstra for Addison mayor

When Richard H. "Rich" Veenstra, 72, moved to Addison in 1973 as a pharmacist, he volunteered to work on drug abuse issues. A few years later, that led to an invitation to fill a vacancy on the village board and he ended up in politics, something he hadn't previously considered.

After 21 years as a trustee, 12 of them as deputy mayor, he served two terms as mayor, running unopposed. This year, he heads the United Addison slate, but this year, he has opposition, unlike the others on his slate.

Maria Sinkule, 37, library board president and a school social worker, is running against him, largely on issues related to racial equity and diversity in a community that is about 40 percent Hispanic but has no Latino board members.

Veenstra cites efforts he has made to make sure services are equitable and ways the community is working to serve the disadvantaged. Sinkule cites a variety of additional steps that could be taken to help Hispanics in the areas of jobs, services and having a voice.

Veenstra says he decided to run for one last term because of the need for continuity after turnover in several key village staff positions.

The lack of opposition candidates indicates most people are happy with the status quo. But as well as providing services, Veenstra has a responsibility to find ways to bring Latinos into leadership positions; trustee vacancies filled during his time as mayor were a missed opportunity.

Veenstra is endorsed with the hope that he will reach out to involve Hispanics in leadership the same way a previous mayor reached out to him.