Endorsements: Rakow, Rodriguez and Arroyo for Elgin Community College

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

Elgin Community College has been among the best operationns in the nation for a long time. It has a strong history of rising to the needs of both its students and a business community looking for qualified workers.

The United4ECC slate comprises: board chair Jennifer Rakow, of St. Charles, a 6-year member of the board; Sergio Rodriguez, of Pingree Grove, an ECC alumnus and IT executive who was appointed to the board a little more than a year ago; Patty Arroyo, of Pingree Grove, the Manager of Interpreting Services and Community Engagement at Ascension St. Joseph Hospital; and the Rev. Patrick Parks, of Elgin, the senior pastor of Second Baptist Church of Elgin. Parks is running unopposed for his seat.

Challenging Rakow, Rodriguez and Arroyo is Lucio Estrada, of Elgin, a recent ECC graduate.

Estrada said he was moved to run because of what he sees as political influence in class. Pressed for details, he said one of his instructors suggested students vote, though not for any particular party or candidate.

Without any particular agenda other than recommending students get involved in the electoral procees doesn't seem out of line to us.

Rakow and Rodriguez, not surprisingly, are knowledgeable about matters concerning curriculum, finances, enrollment and growth on the horizon.

Rakow points out that while enrollment is not where it was pre-pandemic, ECC saw huge gains last year.

Arroyo also is knowledgeable and clearly has her heart in the right place. She is a member of the Elgin Hispanic Network and serves on the board of Centro de Informacion. Her involvement with those organizations and her perspecitve could go a long way to encourage Hispanic students to make use of the college.