Endorsement: Kaven for Geneva Ward 4

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

The city of Geneva is in an enviable position. It has a thriving downtown that has been a suburban destination for decades but has truly grown up in recent years. It has a solid tax base with plans to develop an industrial park on the south side of town.

It could stand to improve its offerings along its valuable stretch of Randall Road corridor, but there are no crises here.

With no mayoral election this year and only one contested ward, it's a quiet municipal election season. But first-term Fourth Ward Alderman Gabriel Kaven nonetheless has drawn a challenge from Martha Paschke, who ran in 2020 for state representative in the 65th House District and lost to incumbent Dan Ugaste.

She is involved in several organizations in town.

We see no sharp differences between the candidates, no disagreement on any issues. And we're confident both have the wherewithal and temperament to serve the Fourth Ward capably.

So, we're left to ask, what's the value in changing a tire on your car when it's running smoothly?

Kaven is a thoughtful, well-researched alderman who says he enjoyed the challenge of working through COVID-19 restrictions that threatened to hobble Geneva's downtown - and would do it again.

Kaven is endorsed.