Endorsement: Abruscato for Wheeling mayor
Wheeling’s politics is colored by players who are passionate about their village but often come up short on teamwork skills. Village President Judy Abruscato is being challenged by former Trustee Pat Horcher, a business owner in the village, and current Trustee Dean Argiris, who runs a mortuary business. Their lack of cohesiveness showed in 2007 when, unable to settle on an acting president to complete the term after the previous mayor resigned, each of them took an eight-month stint. All three are qualified to lead the village, but there’s no sign that either challenger could do better than Abruscato to create more unity. Abruscato, a bank manager, stands on a record of progress. Wheeling has reduced the vacancies in the industrial park and seen movement, though slow, on development of the Wickes property. Abruscato was first elected trustee in 1987 and was active in community groups long before that. She has a sense of fairness and wants all residents to be served, including those on the west side, where she is proposing a fire station. While we still would like her to show more assertiveness on uniting the board, Abruscato is the best choice for Wheeling.