Most people know very little about township government and even less about the candidates for supervisor in the City of Champaign Township.

Two political newcomers, Democrat D'Anne Winston and Republican Pam Borowski, are vying for the post of supervisor of the City of Champaign Township.

Either would be suited to the job, but The News-Gazette is endorsing township employee D'Anne Winston because of her two years' experience working in the office. Winston works as an accountant in the office and previously has worked in the social service field, experience that should make her well suited to demands of the job.

Borowski has been in the real estate business for nearly 20 years and before that worked in customer service and sales jobs.

The News-Gazette is no fan of township government. It's largely invisible to the public, a relic of an earlier time when rural life was dominant. But, like most government institutions that have largely outlived their usefulness, township government lives on. There are 30 separate townships in Champaign County alone.

The supervisor handles administrative duties for the township assessor, serves on the board of the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District and presides over a last-resort welfare program for those who can't get assistance elsewhere.

It's the welfare aspect of the job that has drawn public attention. Voters twice have rejected property tax increases intended to generate more revenue for the township to use for welfare payments.

Because of a shortage of funds, incumbent supervisor Linda Abernathy, who opted not to seek re-election, ended the township general assistance program and is now providing transitional financial aid of roughly $150 per month to 30 people awaiting word on whether they'll be receiving Social Security disability payments.

There is one stark difference between Borowski and Winston. Borowski said she opposes any plan to put another property tax increase to a vote while Winston said she not only would support a tax hike request but believes the township should expand its welfare services, a position both we and the voters have rejected in the past. Borowski said she also favors keeping better track of how township welfare recipients spend the money they receive while Winston said there already is adequate oversight and that increased monitoring would drive up costs.

The split on the tax issue makes this a close call. But Winston is the more experienced candidate for the supervisor's post.