Letter to the Editor: Former Lake Zurich Trustee Endorses Candidates

Dear Editor:

For many years I have been involved with Lake Zurich politics having served with a number of School and Village Board members, leaving the Village board in April 2010.  The evaluation of candidates I’ve seen seems to be based on their individual credentials.  Often little thought is given to social skills.  Can they work together, can they compromise, can they show respect for each other as well as those with differing opinions?  In the past we’ve had a village board and a Township board that were non-functional embarrassments.

I would like to share my endorsements.  The Township is a no-brainer.  Ela First is the best Township board I’ve ever seen.

The Lake Zurich Village election is another story.  First, few people know the good job Suzanne Branding has done.  She has smoothed the waters, kept people on task and defused potential blow-ups on a divided board.  The Lake Zurich Board could have been one of those non functional jokes if it weren’t for her.  To get something going in Lake Zurich, she needs team support.

I’ve met most, if not all the candidates, read about them, and worked with trustee Poynton and Halen.  I can’t support Poynton.  He doesn’t have the skill to work well with others and his emotional nature gets him in trouble when he speaks first and thinks later.  I can’t support trustee Halen.  He’s a nice person, but, while he asks many questions at Board meetings, they are the same questions asked and answered earlier by staff and by plan commission members..  He then frequently states that he doesn’t have enough information to make a decision.  In fact he can’t make decisions and he would continue to be an impediment to progress.

Trustee candidates Gerlach, Schultz, Vander Weit, and Minden have the credentials.  But more importantly, they have what it takes to be a team that will work together for a common purpose.  My hope and vote are for a United Lake Zurich team led by Suzanne Branding.

Jim Johnson