For Franklin Park Village Board, we endorse Juan Acevedo, William Ruhl and Kurt Kugelberg.
Acevedo has earned the endorsement of this paper in the past, and does once again. Disappointed by the condition of each of the major entry points into the village, Acevedo promotes a beautification effort in Franklin Park.
He believes people would volunteer their time to the village to help get this done. If re-elected, we ask Acevedo to lead this effort to bring residents together to improve the town.
Ruhl says he wants to provide a voice of reason on the board. He's seen taxes increasing, fees rising and he says he will not just go along with these increases in the future. He'll want some justification and explanation for what's happening, he says.
It's not that he'll vote against anything Village President Barrett Pedersen wants on principle, though the two faced off two years ago for village president. Tax and fee increases need to be better justified, he believes. With the village undertaking construction of a new police station, Ruhl's critical eye will be needed.
Kugelberg has worked in Baltimore on economic development issues. He is a member of the village's plan commission. He has suggested forming a not-for-profit, independent business agency in Franklin Park to bring businesses to the village.
This is an idea that warrants attention, and we believe Kugelberg can better bring attention to the matter as a village trustee.
Running together on a slate of three, the pair has sworn to give back a third of their trustee salaries as a cost savings to the village. Not an enormous sum of money, but at a time when the village has cut services, we're surprised this move hasn't taken place already.
As Franklin Park works to move its way out of this recession, economic development is foremost. We believe all three candidates are best suited to promote economic development issues on the board. Village President Barrett Pedersen would be wise to listen to what they have to say, though they may come from parties other than his own. A good leader promotes good ideas, whether they come from his supporters or not.
Incumbent Cheryl McLean has served three terms on this board, and though she did not earn our endorsement, she understands the issues Franklin Park faces. The village's failure to get home rule powers in November helped her decide to run again, she said. She does not to walk away from the village now.
We wish she had more concrete ideas to bring business to the village, to work at economic development in town.
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