Endorsement: Payleitner for St. Charles Ward 2

In the only contested aldermanic race in St. Charles, challenger Ryan Bongard is facing two-term incumbent Rita Payleitner.

One of the biggest issues facing St. Charles is the Charlestowne Mall site. Slow progress on the site is an issue for Bongard, and he believes the City Council should do more to move it along. But Payleitner, who agrees the progress is slow, says the city is not responsible but rather lack of progress between the owners of the mall and developers.

Bongard also worries that the capital projects, such as the First Street redevelopment, are negatively affecting the city's finances and says the new gasoline, alcohol and hotel taxes are a way to prop up the budget. Payleitner counters that the city has a healthy reserve and that recent taxes were enacted to make up for cuts in state funding.

We applaud Bongard for running for elected office and wish others would as well. Yet, we also feel that Payleitner has a better grasp on the issues facing St. Charles in the coming years and she is endorsed.