Endorsement: Kaptain for Elgin mayor

This endorsement is a consensus opinion of the Daily Herald Editorial Board.

The race for Elgin mayor might appear to be one largely of style. But it goes deeper than that.

Incumbent Dave Kaptain has been in charge for 12 years. Before that he was a member of the City Council.

In his many years in office, Kaptain has developed a sort of patience that comes with knowing that things take longer than others many think they will. During his tenure, he's been a steady hand, working with the city manager to ensure Elgin stays on a path to continuous improvement and that residents are safe and receive good services.

One would never characterize Kaptain as brash or a big risk taker. He wants to see progress made on replacing old lead water service lines to homes in older parts of town. He also wants to see the area around the Gail Borden Library developed sensibly and the homeless population get some humane living quarters and access to social services that might elevate them out of their situations.

Challenger Corey Dixon is a six-year member of the City Council. It's evident he really wants to be mayor. And he could be a good one someday.

But he is more of a build-it-and-they-will-come candidate, and he will learn if he is elected that progress is often more complicated than that.

Dixon says Kaptain has not been aggressive enough in bringing more business development - notably dining and entertainment venues - into town. And he is frustrated by the amount of Elginites' spending that bypasses the city and goes to neighboring municipalities.

A little frustration is a good thing.

But, as Kaptain pointed out during one of their more spirited exchanges with our Editorial Board, Elgin has a council-manager form of government, and in such a system, the manager is more of a CEO and the mayor the chairman of the board.

Dixon has two more years before the end of his term on the council. We appreciate that he wants to be mayor, but we think he could use those two years to learn more about the complexities of the job - he would be Elgin's first Black mayor - and run again in 2027. With more seasoning, he might understand the the role a bit better.

For now, his enthusiasm doesn't give us a strong enough reason to replace Kaptain. Kaptain is endorsed.