For Villa Park president: Bulthuis brings a solid plan

Albert Bulthuis and Tom Cullerton are seeking to unseat Villa Park Village President Joyce Stupegia with visions for the future. Officials must plan for development and attract new businesses - and new income, they say. The approach is wise in a campaign against Stupegia.

Pressed for ideas for Villa Park's future or goals for a second term, she talks about projects already in the works. And as she looks back, she must contemplate a term in which trustees refused to confirm her appointments and revealed her close relationship with a felon who worked on her campaign.

The challengers, both trustees, worked to update a comprehensive plan from 1984 and talk articulately about commercial redevelopment on North Avenue and the tools available to attract business. Cullerton teems with ideas and points to the off-track betting facility under construction as a revenue-generating idea he proposed despite the lumps he took. Bulthuis ran for trustee to improve board relations, update the comprehensive plan and reduce crime on the north side.

Progress is evident, and Bulthuis offers goals for a term as village president: partner with neighboring towns to save money and provide services; improve streets; and ensure the parks department meets the needs of young families. Bulthuis is endorsed for his specific goals.

In the race for three trustee seats, we believe incumbents Richard Illian, John Davis and newcomer Deborah Bullwinkel are best-suited to revitalize Villa Park.

Illian, a three-term trustee, is a fiscal conservative. He proposes a bare bones budget in order to address the town's fiscal struggles.

Davis sees safety as one of the biggest issues facing the town. Although statistics show crime is down slightly, gang activity is still a problem. Davis, Illian and Bullwinkel are all advocates of a proposed program that would make it difficult for renters involved in criminal activity to rent at other locations in Villa Park.

Bullwinkel, a member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Environmental Concerns Commission, would bring new energy and a fresh perspective. Also running are Greg Hassler, Brian Anderson and Robert Taglia.