Endorsement for Schaumburg mayor, village board

When a town that has never had a property tax abruptly institutes one in the face of severe budget problems, it's not surprising to find veteran leaders facing an angry backlash at the polls. So it is that issues of spending, taxes and responsiveness dominate races for village president and village board in Schaumburg to the point that they overshadow accomplishments that ought not be ignored.

Village President Al Larson describes a vision for the town's economic heart as the “downtown for the Northwest suburbs.” Over the course of six terms, he has led his village board through a period of development that blended a comfortable and desirable suburban residential environment with a thriving entertainment and shopping complex that is much more than just a giant shopping mall.

True, an unexpected national economic crisis produced setbacks in recent years. But with forthright persistence and a willingness to make unpopular decisions, Larson and the village board have laid a groundwork that make it realistic to expect eventual elimination of the property tax and that will foster renewed success of such amenities as the baseball stadium and the Schaumburg Convention Center.

Larson is challenged by Brian Costin, a government watchdog making his first foray into elected politics. Costin is an outspoken critic of taxation and spending in the village, but for the most part, his grievances have a shrill tone that belittles the efforts Schaumburg leaders have made to deal with an unprecedented general economic collapse and belies the work they've done to build a village that in many ways remains the envy of most Chicago suburbs.

Incumbent village board candidates George Dunham Jr., Mark Madej and Henry Curcio share in the credit for that work. All three have been active in village government in various roles for many years — Dunham as far back as 1983 — and their experience and insight will remain valuable as the village navigates the still-uncertain economic seas ahead.

At least two challengers — Robert Garrett and Ralph Roller — demonstrate an ability to temper their outrage with a willingness to listen and could become valuable contributors to village affairs if they're willing to work their way into the fabric of Schaumburg government, Newcomer Peter Dombrowski also is vying for a village board seat,

But the fact remains that Larson and his team, including Dunham, Madej and Curcio, have demonstrated the energy and vision to build a model community and the fortitude to carry it through tough times. They are endorsed.