Endorsement: McLaughlin for Barrington Hills village president

It's not every elected official who can state unequivocally that he delivered on every campaign promise, but Martin McLaughlin can record his accomplishments in black and white - budget, spending and tax levy all reduced; settlement of labor issues and an unbelievably long-standing civil suit with Sears; efficiencies gained through consolidation of functions and resources and a variety of achievements aimed at maintaining the town's rural charm; and building a greater sense of community. We didn't endorse McLaughlin in his first bid for village president, but we can't argue with the results on the balance sheet of his first term.

Achieving them, we acknowledge, wasn't always easy or pretty. But it's particularly impressive to note that the successes required energy, resourcefulness, intimate knowledge of the workings of government, persuasion and a steadfast commitment to his vision, often in the face of heated opposition from forces uncomfortable with an era of change. It would not be accurate to say the village is on a "new" course, for the interest of its leaders has always been to maintain the town's financial strength and its wide-open, bucolic charm. But Barrington Hills is on a constructive course, and McLaughlin remains the right person to continue it.

He is challenged by Louis Iacovelli, a technology engineer and consultant who has led his homeowners association and been active in some community projects. Iacovelli offers some vague complaints about government transparency and property rights violations, but is not clear or detailed in describing either the problems or the solutions. His devotion to effective village government seems sincere and commendable, but he doesn't suggest the capacity to outperform the current administration in maintaining the village's stability and quality of life.

We endorse McLaughlin.