2009 Landmark Endorsements
If people in Brookfield wondered why this election season seemed different than the last two, there’s a reason: it was. The 2009 campaign between the PEP and VIP parties has been civil and reasonable, and candidates have focused on issues instead of personalities.
And, looking at the issues, it is clear to us that the person best suited to leading Brookfield for the next four years is the incumbent candidate for village president, MICHAEL GARVEY.
The list of accomplishments during his first term is long and some of them probably go unnoticed by residents. The most public achievements are the Ogden Avenue TIF, a large-scale improvement at Jaycee/Park, a deliberate and consistent approach to road and alley improvements, and the remaking of an administration that was adrift.
The village has a professional building department, focused recreation staff and has instituted hiring policies to prevent politics from playing a role. Behind the scenes, this board has overhauled technology to let staff work more efficiently and has overseen the construction of a new 911 center.
This is not to say all is perfect. The board has got to provide more oversight and critical inquiry regarding the state of village finances and has to hold staff accountable for costly errors that impede funding village services. The failure to hire a finance director for three years has turned out to be a real problem and the village is paying the price for that lack of day-to-day expertise.
But Garvey’s record as president overall has been strong. While we like his opponent, Wil Brennan, who has experience as a trustee and a vision of his own for leading Brookfield, Garvey has proven himself as a capable leader and deserves another four years.
Four years ago, we did not endorse MICHAEL TOWNER, thinking he might prove more of a political animal than a leader. He has proven us wrong. Towner has proven himself to be an independent thinker, and advocate for residents, for recreation and for special recreation.
While PEP board members, including Towner, seem reluctant to push back against staff when we believe the village would be best served by doing so, Towner has been a good trustee for Brookfield.
We also endorse CATHY COLGRASS EDWARDS for another term as trustee. Edwards has been a solid board member, an advocate for seniors and recreation and an enthusiastic booster of conservation and beautification efforts in the village.
Finally, we’re endorsing TIM HEILENBACH for trustee. Tim would make a green trustee, no doubt, this being his first foray into village government. However, it is clear to us that Heilenbach would not be afraid to ask tough questions and would bring a different perspective to a board that we feel is too content to let village management set its own course.
As for trustee candidates Richard Kostelnik, Leanne Digan and Brian Oberhauser all are enthusiastic about being involved in village government and have acquitted themselves well during the campaign. But we feel the above candidates are the best prepared to serve Brookfield.
Weber for clerk
The village clerk, in the eyes of journalists, is an incredibly important person. The clerk is the conduit for information.
BRIGID WEBER in the past two years has worked with village staff to make more information about village government available at the touch of a finger than any time in the past. All board packets, and now commission agendas, are online, audio recordings of board meetings are also available online.
There’s always room for more information – village financial information, minutes for all village commission, planning documents – and Weber should advocate for that as well.
Those advances alone lead us to endorse Weber over her challenger, Bill Russ, a former village president and trustee.