Endorsements: Cuzzone, Tucker, Wagner for Villa Park village board.

Two incumbents and two newcomers are squaring off for three available seats on the Villa Park village board and it's a shame one of them won't make it. All are knowledgeable, dedicated citizens who haven't just done their homework on village issues but have active, direct experience with local government.

Nick Cuzzone and Robert Wagner have honed their resumes with direct village board service - Cuzzone for two years, Wagner for four. They bring other valuable qualities as well. Cuzzone is an environmental consultant with a chemical engineering background and a record of community service. Wagner is a liability claims representative with a deep background of local involvement that includes 15 years previously on the Villa Park library board.

Newcomer David Cilella has 33 years of experience as a municipal worker in nearby villages and is intimately familiar with how a village operates, with a particular expertise in infrastructure and wastewater treatment, issues that are priorities at the moment in Villa Park.

Cheryl Orlow Tucker qualifies as a newcomer in the sense that she is not currently on the board, but she has a long record of community service and speaks about issues facing the village with the depth and sophistication of a veteran board member.

For that reason, she would fit nicely into the pace of activities already under way in Villa Park. Additionally, as the only woman on the board, if elected, she would provide a perspective on government the board certainly could use. Together, Cuzzone, Tucker and Wagner offer a diverse mix of experience, knowledge and dedication that would serve Villa Park well at a critical time. They are endorsed.