State House District 61: Osmond

The race for state representative in Illinois House District 61 in northern Lake County pits two Antioch residents against each other — incumbent Republican JoAnn Osmond and small-business man Scott Pollak, the Democrat.

Each is genuinely interested in serving their community and the state, but our endorsement goes to Osmond, who has shown herself to be sensitive to her constituents' needs and a proponent of political reform and fiscal restraint and Springfield.

She's particularly focused on job growth and on reversing what she sees as Wisconsin's competitive advantages over Illinois in attracting small business.

She is an advocate of tough and disciplined spending and believes every state government program needs to be reviewed to seek out opportunities for savings.

Pollak is enthusiastic, but he lacks the perspective Osmond's experience brings.