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Endorsements: Barconi, Lieser, Sweet for South Elgin Village Board

It can be debated whether the village of South Elgin is running like a well-oiled machine, but if you believe things are at least moving in the right direction, you'll be voting for the three incumbents for village trustee.

Jennifer Barconi, Greg Lieser and John Sweet Sr. ran unopposed in 2017 and they're back for another four years.

Shane Hamilton and Anthony Ed Metoyer, neither of whom, participated in the Daily Herald's interview process, are challenging them.

Barconi, an Air Force veteran who served as a flight medic during Operation Desert Storm, was elected trustee in 2013.

Lieser, a retired banker, was appointed to the board in 2016 and elected in 2017. He was on the planning and zoning commission from 2014 to 2016 and began service to the village in 2005 as a member of the economic development council.

Sweet's long tenure of serving began when he was elected in 1997.

The current board and staff set the Village's Strategic Plan, and Barconi said all interested parties — including residents — are “working toward measurable objectives.”

The board seems to work collaboratively and doesn't spend taxpayer money foolishly. To the contrary. It secured fund and grants for the widening of McLean Boulevard from Spring Street to Route 31. And while Lieser acknowledges about one-third of the streets are nearing the end of their useful life, it'll be patching and repairing because borrowing money to fix them means debt and new debt is unwelcome.

Barconi points out revenues are anticipated to be $1.5 million less so expenses were decreased $1.1 million, maintaining healthy reserves.

Lieser said he'd “like to hand off a debt-free municipality to future generations.”

That should be enough to earn your vote. Add Barconi and Sweet to the list as well.

Gregor Lieser
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