Endorsement: Grogan for Republicans for DuPage County auditor

In nearly 12 years as DuPage County auditor, Bob Grogan has produced an impressive reputation for transparency, efficiency and competence.

With justifiable pride, the Downers Grove Republican points to various state firsts he has implemented - including the first county checkbook online, the first transparency portal and the first auditor hotline. He has served as the president of the Association of Illinois County Auditors and notes that he knows how "to ask the awkward questions" that an auditor must raise when working with county officials to fix errors, find wrongdoing or just make things work better.

His challenger for the party's nomination in the March 17 primary is retired bank officer Jeffrey Mack, of Downers Grove. Mack has an appropriate financial background for auditor and a reasonable familiarity with the duties of the office. His strongest argument, however, is that he could bring a "fresh set of eyes" to the operation. That's not an irrelevant point, but Mack doesn't build on it by demonstrating why a new perspective alone would justify replacing an auditor with Grogan's record and credentials.

Grogan is Republicans' strongest alternative for the November ballot, and he gets our endorsement.