Endorsement: Ladesic, Senak, Kenwood for Glen Ellyn village board
The Glen Ellyn village board will face several important questions in the coming four years, including ways to maintain a vibrant downtown; how, where and if to build an underpass or overpass in or near downtown; and the construction of a new police station.
To help make these decisions, voters in the village will choose three council members on April 7 from a field of four strong candidates that features incumbent Pete Ladesic and newcomers (at least to village politics) John Kenwood, Mark Senak and Carol Fontana. The last three all have been endorsed by the Civic Betterment Party; all four would serve their community well.
In a town where it's rare for elected village officials to serve more than one term, Ladesic, a builder and developer, has bucked the trend by serving seven years on the village board. He argues - we think correctly - that his continued presence on the board allows for continuity that puts the village in a better position not only to create a long-term plan but to implement it.
A good listener, he's prepared at board meetings and able to clearly articulate his positions. He says the village "absolutely" needs a new police station to overcome the current facility's lack of space and storage. He supports an underpass near downtown but says the board needs to "slow down" to address all options and consequences. He is endorsed.
Senak, an attorney, says he will challenge those who want the board to take action to justify their positions. So while he's open to the concept of a new police station, he says he isn't sure the village has yet to fully prove the need. He says he wants to promote and improve the downtown, but in a way that is consistent with its current atmosphere. He is endorsed.
Also endorsed is Kenwood, a management consultant in information technology, who is stepping down from the Glen Ellyn Elementary District 41 school board. He says the village can help attract downtown businesses by making it easier for them to work through the process, and adds Glen Ellyn would benefit in many areas from better long-term planning. He says his involvement on the school board and in the community will allow him to hit the ground running. We agree.