Endorsement: Britton for Cook County Board Dist. 14

This endorsement is a consensus opinion of the Daily Herald Editorial Board.

Democrat Scott Britton is running to retain the 14th District seat on the Cook County Board - which stretches from North Shore suburbs west through Northbrook and largely into Wheeling and Palatine - and he's facing a challenge from Republican Benton Howser, who's running for elected office for the first time. Britton, a lawyer from Glenview, lists policy achievements on his campaign website in the areas of renter-landlord rules, ballot access for non-English-speakers, raising the tobacco sales age and improving trust between police and residents. In a questionnaire he completed for us, he's even more detailed about his ideas and efforts regarding crime, public transit, green infrastructure, help for local businesses and infrastructure needs in the suburbs, and he touts his "rigorous budget review process."

The campaign of Howser, an Army officer and investment manager, focuses a lot on "safe streets." He comes out strongly against the SAFE-T Act and its no-cash-bail measures, also worrying about the spread of fentanyl. He wants to ensure police are adequately funded and current gun laws are followed. He calls for an assessment of Cook County roads.

But it's clear Britton possesses a better knowledge and understanding of county business and he's more thoughtful about his ideas than Howser. Britton is endorsed.