Endorsements: Thorsen, Reinert in GOP race for McHenry County Board, Dist. 2
Without a true incumbent in the field, GOP voters in McHenry County Board District 2 will select from a group of three relative newcomers to county politics when deciding their party's nominations for two open seats March 15.
Each has strengths and weaknesses, leaving voters with a field of three capable candidates, but no standouts. The most experienced of the group is Jeffrey Thorsen, who served 16 years on the Crystal Lake City Council before his appointment to the county board in November. Thorsen, who was party officials' choice to replace departing board member Ken Koehler last fall, is a strong fiscal conservative whose familiarity with government finance is a plus, but lacks specific proposals for reducing spending and taxes.
Cameron Hubbard is serving his first full term on the Crystal Lake City Council. If elected, he'd be by far the youngest member of the county board, and his ideas about keeping people of his generation from leaving the county could prove an asset. He has a strong pro-growth platform, but no detailed proposals for attracting new business and development.
John Reinert lacks his fellow candidates' political experience - in fact, he has none. Yet more than either of his opponents, Reinert offers a clear-cut vision for how to address county needs and improve its business environment.
Though all three candidates qualify, we endorse Reinert and Thorsen.