Endorsement: Perkowitz for Round Lake Beach trustee
The race for four open trustee seats on the Round Lake Beach village board features eight candidates — two slates of four hopefuls each.
What we had hoped would be a spirited contest for three, 4-year terms and one, 2-year term that would promote discussions about the issues facing the village and an exchange of ideas about its future, regrettably, produced neither.
That's because no members of the slate made up of incumbents Christy Davis, Chuck Husk, Sylvia Valadez and two-year candidate Martha Ibarra, responded to the Daily Herald Editorial Board's requests to schedule a joint interview, despite multiple attempts. Husk also did not complete a candidate questionnaire.
We're disappointed and frustrated — and Round Lake Beach voters should be, too — that an entire slate of sitting trustees would ignore requests to share views about their candidacies. None can be endorsed.
Political newcomers Michael Jenkins, Millie Vargas and two-year candidate Madelyn Staack — members of the challenging slate — are civic-minded and well-meaning in their desire to be elected officials but they didn't convince us that their knowledge of the issues and the ideas they offer to improve the village warrant our support.
The one exception was newcomer Sherry Perkowitz, a member of the challenging slate.
Perkowitz, a special-education teacher in Waukegan Unit District 60, has civic involvement experience in a variety of important causes ranging from DCFS foster parent to serving as a puppy counselor/raiser for Leader Dogs for the Blind.
She noted several important issues facing the village, including the need for better village communication, eliminating unnecessary barriers to resident requests for information and assistance and addressing stormwater flooding in some neighborhoods.
Some useful ideas she offered included creating a dog park, better utilizing the Round Lake Beach Cultural and Civic Center and recruiting a dispensary for medical and recreational marijuana to come to the village.
We think she will be an effective trustee and bring an independent voice to the village board. Perkowitz is endorsed for a 4-year seat.