Endorsements: Spieker, Thomas, Paszkiewicz for Pingree Grove village board
Voters in Pingree Grove have four capable village trustee candidates to choose from when they head to the polls April 7. All four have experience serving the village - three as current members of the village board - and each offers insight and potential solutions to some of the challenges Pingree Grove faces.
Incumbent Trustee Robert Spieker impresses with his knowledge of village workings and has clear, realistic proposals for addressing the lack of commercial development that makes keeping the village budget balanced a constant struggle, especially as the town continues to add residents.
Fellow Trustee Bernard Thomas lacks Spieker's knowledge of village affairs, but has a useful background in the transportation industry.
We're impressed with his willingness to work on the village's behalf and consider any solution to its challenges, including a possible tax-rate hike. While we may not ultimately endorse a hike, we appreciate that someone is willing to lead that discussion.
The experience of incumbent Brian Paszkiewicz, a trustee since 2010, gives him a small edge in our minds over challenger Joe Nowosielski, who has served on the village's Financial Task Force and planning and zoning commission.
Nowosielski, we have no doubt, could serve ably as a trustee, but we have no reason not to endorse the three incumbents who have done much over the past four years to keep the village moving forward amid a challenging economy and its own fiscal limitations.
We strongly endorse Spieker and Thomas, and give Paszkiewicz a slight nod over Nowosielski.