Endorsement: Hasse, Mullen, Trussell for Lisle trustee

Trustees admit Lisle has a reputation among developers of “being difficult” at a time when commercial and retail development is crucial in maintaining a tax levy freeze. The board needs a balance of viewpoints and experience to navigate this and other challenges.

Marie Hasse, seeking her second term on the village board, says there is still work to be done and she still has contributions to make. We agree. Hasse believes the village can maintain the tax levy freeze by continuing to analyze spending and examine whether capital projects can be put on hold. Regarding Lisle's attempt to draw in more business, she says they're on the right track with updating zoning code and getting an economic development partnership off the ground. The work the board has done should begin to pay off, she says.

For the remaining two slots, Mary Jo Mullen and William W. Trussell are endorsed. Mullen, who is finishing a four-year term as Lisle Township supervisor, is a civil engineer with a background working at FEMA, which will serve Lisle well as it faces stormwater management and flood prevention issues. Mullen says freezing the tax levy is sustainable for a time, but further cuts in spending are not. The village needs to focus on growing its economy to lessen the tax burden on residents, she asserts.

As a member of the planning and zoning commission, Trussell has been noodling through the village's tedious zoning update, which officials hope is a critical step in smoothing the way for developers to consider Lisle. Trussell, though, says he will be vigilant: “Development is only good if it's good development.”

Thomas Duffy, Daniel Grecco, David Richter and Robert Taylor round out the field of seven candidates seeking positions on the board. But for us, Hasse, Mullen and Trussell offer the best combination of experience, energy and vision, and they get our endorsement.