Endorsements: Kritzmire, O'Connor and O'Reilly for Long Grove village board

In 2017, three dynamic women — all newcomers to the Long Grove village board — were elected trustees. Four years later, Anne Kritzmire, Rita O'Connor and Bobbie O'Reilly continue to display an infectious enthusiasm for the work to be done and fresh ideas for how Long Grove can hold on to its past while looking toward the future.

O'Reilly describes the incumbents as three very different women who work well together. While they disagree on some issues — the village's ban on recreational marijuana sales for one — they share a mutual respect and a commitment to moving forward. O'Connor, for example, is pushing for pedestrian bridges over busy roads to connect neighborhoods and make it easier to walk or bike to the downtown district. And they are working together on additional solutions to protect Long Grove's iconic bridge.

They face a challenge in the April 6 election from Mohammed Jameel, a physician whose campaign emphasizes increased communication with residents and collaboration with surrounding communities to address traffic issues. He could be a nice addition and fresh voice for the board down the road, but he needs a better understanding of how village government works. We encourage him to get involved in other civic projects.

The incumbents, meanwhile, bring a breadth of experience to the board. O'Reilly, a real estate professional, served as a Buffalo Grove trustee for eight years and as a Lake County Board member for four. Kritzmire, a marketing manager, has been involved in a wide range of volunteer projects. O'Connor, a real estate broker and attorney, has served as treasurer of her homeowners association as well as a volunteer with the local schools.

Kritzmire, O'Connor and O'Reilly are endorsed.