Daily Herald endorsement: Boe for Sleepy Hollow village president

For the first time in nearly a quarter of a century, Stephan Pickett’s name will not appear on the ballot for Sleepy Hollow village president. As this longtime suburban leader steps away, voters will choose between two candidates with experience in village government: Trustees Courtney Boe and Jenny McGuire.

The two candidates share a similar connection to Sleepy Hollow: Both grew up in the village and returned as adults. And each saw changes in the community upon moving back that convinced them to run for village board.

Boe, an educator and caregiver, cites water and sewer concerns as the village’s top issue. Water mains need updating, she says, and sewage processing limitations must be weighed with any future development, including the controversial storage facility proposed for Main Street. McGuire, the manager of a recruiting firm, points to streets in need of repair and has fought against the storage facility, arguing it will hurt property values for neighbors. She seeks a more robust focus on development.

Both candidates are well-informed and passionate, and they share a desire to improve the flow of information in the village. But Boe offers concrete ideas as she stresses the need for open and transparent communication, pledging to hold weekly office hours, make board agenda packets more available to the public, resurrect the printed quarterly newsletter and work toward a stronger village social media presence.

Thoughtful and measured, Boe’s ideas coupled with her background in law and mediation make a compelling case for her candidacy. She describes herself as “approachable and academic,” and a good fit to bridge divisions in the community. These are qualities that would serve her well as village president.

Boe is endorsed.