An Arlington Heights letter to the editor: A recent Daily Herald editorial spoke about the newspaper's coverage of, and recommendations for, local elections. However, the Editorial Board also included a plea for "diversity."

A recent Daily Herald editorial spoke about the newspaper's coverage of, and recommendations for, local elections. However, the Editorial Board also included a plea for "diversity."

"Across the suburbs, the candidates still are disproportionately white, still tend to be more male than female and tilt older than the general population. But there are signs too that the demographics of the candidates are slowly starting to broaden," the editorial stated.

Then it goes on: "Women may not be proportionately represented yet - particularly in mayoral races - but they're not anomalies on the ballot anymore either. A lot of women are running. Also encouraging, this year's suburban ballots have a few more faces of color and some representation of young people. There is a long way to go to provide for a diversity of candidates that matches the diversity of the suburban population."

What wonderful socialist goals. Why do candidates - or any board, etc.- have to "match" the diversity of a population? That is totally artificial. There are personal differences in availability, skills, qualifications and interests among all ethnic groups. Yes, if there were no women, no people of color, etc. involved, that would be suspicious. But, really, setting quotas as a "litmus test" is just as dumb as "equal opportunity" quotas. Should we now elect and appoint people just based on their color or gender?

David Borck

Arlington Heights