Endorsements: Mastalski, Oskerka, Merlin, Smith for Des Plaines City Council

With a boost from revenues provided by the Rivers Casino, the city of Des Plaines is a well-run municipality with a solid financial foundation from which to address a range of persistent issues, including downtown redevelopment and certain infrastructure upgrades.

Seeking to influence decisions on these and other topics over the next four years are eight candidates facing off in four separate contests for the ward-based City Council. They include an interesting mix of experienced incumbents and fresh new faces, offering the prospect of a productive new term.

Here are our recommendations for the best team to reach that outcome.

Ward 1: Mastalski

Jessica M. Mastalski, Des Plaines city clerk, and Margaret Chlebek, a property management professional, are making a bid for the council seat from the city’s First Ward. In their candidate questionnaires, both offer informed ideas for dealing with issues facing the city. Chlebek was unable to attend our Editorial Board meeting with candidates. We are impressed by the energy and depth of insights Mastalski offers, both in person and in her questionnaire responses. She would make an excellent, involved alderperson.

Ward 3: Oskerka

The decision between incumbent Sean Oskerka and newcomer Debra Lester is more difficult than one might usually expect involving a challenge to an effective, experienced alderperson. But Lester, an attorney, brings some appealing features to the race, including insightful ideas for dealing with downtown, financial and ward issues, a useful legal background and relevant experience on the Des Plaines Fire and Police Commission. She presents her ideas with a degree of poise and professionalism that make us confident she would be a constructive addition to the council. However, Oskerka, an emergency room nurse, also demonstrates similar qualities and insights, and he has the added benefit of four years’ previous service on the council. It takes time for any new candidate to get up to speed on a governing board, and Oskerka shows he has prepared well for a second term.

Ward 5: Merlin

In the race for the Fifth Ward seat, Thomas A. Merlin is one of the most impressive candidates among the entire eight-person field. He is well-informed on a wide range of issues, articulate in expressing his thoughts on them and collaborative in his style. In addition, as a business owner, he brings a financial background that will be important in council discussions as the body aims to increase the diversity and prominence of commercial and restaurant operations in town. His opponent Michael Hardiman is a well-intentioned candidate with long roots in the city, but is no match for the energy and creativity Merlin brings to the race.

Ward 7: Smith

In the Seventh Ward, incumbent Patricia “Patsy” Smith faces an imposing challenge from attorney Bob Porada. We have expressed concerns in his previous attempts for a seat on the council about Porada’s bombastic, confrontational style and we continue to have those reservations as we’ve watched him during this campaign. Smith is not the engaged, energetic candidate we would prefer on the board, but she brings useful experience and a sincere interest in what’s best for the city and the ward. She gets our qualified endorsement.