Endorsement for Des Plaines city council: Wilson, Zadrozny, Chester
Aldermanic seats are being contested in three wards in Des Plaines, and we're pleased by the civil nature of the politicking that's taking place so far.
The race in the city's Second Ward pits library board Trustee Earl Wilson against Marty “Colt” Moylan, son of the former mayor and current state legislator.
Wilson, who's running on a platform of cost control and reduced taxes, impresses us with his energy and efforts to listen to the voters.
Moylan, following in his father's footsteps as business representative with the Illinois Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 134, so far has shown little of his father's conspicuous accessibility.
He declined to participate in an interview with our Editorial Board and as yet has not completed our candidate questionnaire.
Our endorsement goes to Wilson.
In the Fourth Ward, retired East Dundee firefighter Mark Setzer, who ran unsuccessfully for alderman four years ago, is competing against condominium association president Artur Zadrozny.
They're both good candidates. Setzer is knowledgeable and clearly committed to the city and its future. We don't doubt his energy. But our endorsement goes to Zadrozny. Though he's newer in town, we appreciate his love of the community, and we're particularly impressed by his collaborative manner, which would translate effectively to a position on the city council.
As he himself describes it, “I do not believe in (an) aggressive or confrontational leadership style,” and that's exactly the approach Des Plaines — and all governments, for that matter — need.
In the Sixth Ward, voters have a choice between Alderman Malcolm Chester and his predecessor, former Alderman Mark Walsten. Both have been unsuccessful mayoral candidates in the past.
This is no easy choice. Both have been hard-working representatives of their wards and both have received our endorsement for alderman in the past.
Our endorsement this time goes to Chester. He's been an insightful, energetic and collaborative member of the city council and has a long record of contributions to both the city and the Sixth Ward.