Endorsements: Furnish, Mayer and Palmquist for Geneva City Council

No matter who voters choose in April, the Geneva City Council will have several new members.

Third Ward residents will be choosing among newcomers Lee W. Eysturlid, Larry Furnish and Kevin J. Ziegler. And in the Fifth Ward, residents will pick among newcomers Patrice Bertheau, Kim Edwards and Jeff Palmquist.

In the Fourth Ward, incumbent Amy Mayer is facing a challenge from Erin M. Di Silvestro

Races in the first and second wards and a race to serve a 2-year term in the fifth are uncontested.

The next board faces several issues including how to address an aging police station after the current board pulled a referendum question off the April ballot.

Third Ward

Eysturlid would like to see the city pay more attention to the east side of town and fixing outdated and worn-out infrastructure.

Furnish also would like to see the city address aging infrastructure issues. He wants the board to continue to involve residents in decision-making processes.

Ziegler didn’t complete our questionnaire or attend our endorsement session and can’t be endorsed.

Furnish and Eysturlid would make fine additions to the board. We favor Furnish and he is endorsed.

Fourth Ward

Mayer, who has served on the board since 2021, is seeking a second term.

She supports a full replacement of the police station and wants the city to continue to improve existing facilities.

Di Silvestro didn’t complete our questionnaire or attend our endorsement session and can’t be endorsed

Mayer has earned the right to another term. She is endorsed.

Fifth Ward

Bertheau says she’ll work to increase transparency and communication with residents of the ward.

Edwards wants the council to take a careful and thoughtful look at the police station before making a decision on the project. She would also like to see the council improve communication with residents.

Palmquist would like the city to develop more housing options for both younger adults and seniors looking to downsize from single-family homes.

All three candidates would be quality additions to the board. Palmquist has more experience working in a government setting, and we find that persuasive. He is endorsed.