Endorsement: Dave Kaptain for mayor of Elgin
Dave Kaptain has led the city of Elgin for the past eight years as mayor and before that served for six years on the city council.
Kaptain has always impressed us a genial leader who seeks consensus and listens to all viewpoints. That listening ear has been especially important during the past year as Elgin has been riven by the shooting of black motorist Decynthia Clements during a tense standoff on the Jane Addams Tollway.
Police Lt. Christian Jensen, a veteran white officer who shot and killed Clements, remains on administrative leave even after the Cook County state's attorney's office said last week it would not pursue criminal charges against him. The city will hire an outside firm to also investigate the matter.
Elgin leaders for decades have worked to improve relations and build trust between residents and the police, but the death of Clements hampered that progress.
Those on opposite sides of the argument over whether Jensen should be reinstated have packed council meetings to express their views.
Kaptain recently began enforcing a rule on the length of time a person can address the council, but that's not to suggest he doesn't care what people have to say. The city will heal only if people are allowed to speak.
Kaptain's challenger is Carol Rauschenberger, who grew up in town but spent much of her adult life elsewhere, returning to Elgin 12 years ago. She was elected to the city council in 2012.
Rauschenberger's vision for Elgin isn't much different from Kaptain's. Both are smart people with big hearts and the qualities of a leader. But Kaptain has been a steadying hand in good and difficult times, and his dreams for Elgin to be a “City of Choice” are still within grasp.
Kaptain is endorsed.