Endorsements: Patel, Czarny, Dunham for Lindenhurst village board

With one three-member slate of incumbents and another three-candidate slate of newcomers, the Lindenhurst village board race seems a contest of the old guard versus the new. And while in some ways it is, neither side can lay exclusive claim on either government experience or fresh ideas.

Led by Village President Dominic Marturano, the Lindenhurst Best Choice slate features 12-year Trustee Patrick Dunham, along with more recent board additions Dawn Czarny, elected in 2015, and Heath Rosten, appointed in 2017.

The challenger slate, Lindenhurst United for Change, includes Milburn Elementary District 24 board member Casandra Slade, her former Milburn colleague Trak Patel and Stacey Kramer, the founder of the Lake County chapter of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

All the candidates impress with their dedication to the community and sincere desire to make it better. We have little doubt all could serve capably. From the United for Change slate, Patel impresses most. A CPA and founder of an accounting and auditing firm, Patel would provide financial expertise and understanding of operational efficiencies to a village board forced to make the most of a tight budget every year.

Czarny of the Best Choice slate also impresses with creative suggestions to draw economic development and improve quality of life in the village, as well as her openness to the ideas of the opposing slate.

Lastly, Dunham gets a slight nod from us over the rest for his almost encyclopedic understanding of the village's recent history, its current circumstances and the plans for its near future. We endorse Patel, Czarny and Dunham.