Rather, we believe that Wilson understood early that the County Council must be a political counterweight to the mayor's office, and that it should play a strong oversight role in county government. Given the scandals that have rocked that government recently, the council seems to be awakening to that idea.

If voters place Wilson on the council, they will be sending a message that they expect these elected representatives to bring tougher scrutiny to the budget and to the management of the county by the mayor and other elected executives. That's what Wilson has pledged to do.

Many county politicians are singing this tune now, including Wilson's opponent, incumbent councilman Steve Harmsen. He has proposed a 10-point ethics program that is thoughtful, but he is attempting to drain the swamp after the fact.

Voters should remember that Harmsen stood up with other Republicans and echoed Mayor Nancy Workman's charge that the criminal investigation against her by District Attorney David Yocom, a Democrat, was politically motivated. Harmsen took the line that the mayor's transgressions were merely procedural, not criminal, a matter of forgetting to “dot the i's and cross the t's.”

A bipartisan panel to four prosecutors from other counties disagreed, deciding that there was sufficient evidence against the mayor to support two felony charges for misusing public funds. She now faces trial on those charges.

This scandal follows the “guzzlegate” mess that engulfed former county auditor Craig Sorensen and two other officials.

Wilson wonders where the County Council was during all of this. She argues that with the change in the form of county government four years ago, the council still does not fully understand and exercise its oversight powers.

She has not held county office before, but she does know something about government. She was chief of staff to former Democratic congressman Bill Orton, and she has a master's degree from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. She was director of volunteers for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.

It is no secret that Wilson's father, Ted, recently married Tribune columnist Holly Mullen, but we can assure our readers that Ms. Mullen has had no influence or communication with the editorial board about this endorsement.

We give Harmsen credit for his work to improve campaign finance disclosure in county government and his efforts to keep taxes and spending down. But we believe that Wilson can bring a fresh and needed perspective to the council.