State Senate District 31: Schmidt

The race for the Illinois Senate from District 31 in northern Lake County is a competitive one between two solid candidates — incumbent Democrat Michael Bond of Grayslake and Lake County Board Chairwoman Suzi Schmidt, a Republican from Lake Villa.

Each is a fiscal conservative and each is an advocate of reform essential attributes in Springfield these days.

We like both, and find it difficult to choose between them.

The political process forces us to do so, however, so our slight preference is Schmidt, and she wins our endorsement. We give her the nod because of her strong record of leadership in Lake County government, where she has built consensus, balanced budgets and worked to make government responsive to the taxpayers.

She rightly wants to cut state government costs and encourage job and business growth.

She'll be a good legislator.