Endorsements: Steffen, Powell, Shaw, Good, Lopez for Elgin City Council
Editor's note: This story was changed to correct a candidate's first name. The correct name is John Steffen.
Elgin is a city rich with pride and a strong spirit of volunteerism, and that always is on display during election season, when it's rare to have a field of fewer than 10 candidates vying for seats on the city council.
This year is no exception. And each candidate has his or her own set of strengths.
Twelve-year council member John Steffen, eight-year member Tish Powell, six-year member Toby Shaw and five-year member Rose Martinez are running to retain four-year seats.
They are challenged by: Anthony Ortiz, an administrative assistant with the Kane County State's Attorney's Office; Fred Moulton, a retired engineer and member of the city's parks and recreation advisory board; and Dustin Good, a manager/bartender at Elgin Public House, board member for the Downtown Neighborhood Assocation and a onetime Elgin Community College student trustee.
Vying for a single two-year unexpired term are: Baldemar Lopez, an attorney who also was a student trustee at ECC; Steve Thoren, a mortgage broker, former township trustee appointee and member of two dozen organizations in town; and Jerri McCue, who has served on a variety of boards and has been on the city's planning and zoning panel since 2015.
Steffen has been a thoughtful, steady hand on the council. Powell has a background in urban management. As the council's only black woman, she has an important voice.
It's worth noting that she is the only candidate to say it would be a betrayal of the public trust to reinstate Police Lt. Christian Jensen, the officer who shot and killed Decynthia Clements a year ago during a standoff on I-90.
Other candidates said they would reserve their opinion until investigations into the shooting are completed.
Shaw refers to himself as the “balancer” on the council. He approaches issues with an open mind, but adds a conservative Christian perspective to the discussion.
These three incumbents have proved their mettle.
As for the challengers, Dustin Good, 33, impresses us as a voice for downtown and millennials. He's well studied on the issues and has been an active participant in guiding the downtown's progress.
A movement in Elgin to lure younger people into public service is getting much support. What better way to do that than by showing the youth of Elgin they can lead the city now?
For the two-year seat, we endorse Lopez. His experience as an immigration attorney provides another important voice for the city.
It's important that Elgin's city council reflects its diverse population, and with Steffen, Powell, Shaw, Good and Lopez on it, the city would be in good hands.