Endorsement: Cecola for Barrington Hills village president

Two experienced, knowledgeable candidates are vying for the opportunity to serve Barrington Hills as village president in the April 6 election, and voters face a difficult time choosing between them.

Brian Cecola, a self-employed business owner, is a village trustee with a long record of service in the area, including leadership of the Barrington Lions Club and serving as a firefighter and board member for the Barrington Fire Department, On the Barrington Hills village board, he heads the Bridges and Public Safety Department, which accounts for a large portion of the town's budget.

He emphasizes goals of fiscal restraint - citing the village's record of six-straight years of levy reduction - and sees himself as a relationship builder who can work constructively with other leaders.

Dennis Kelly, an insurance broker and risk manager, is president of the Barrington Hills Park District and former board chairman of the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce, who says his leadership philosophy is "guided by the principle of common sense."

Both men are well suited to serve capably in the village president's role. Our preference leans toward Cecola, whose direct experience with the village board gives him more direct insight into the workings of village government and would seem to give him a head start in working with village board members to address issues facing the community. He gets our endorsement.