Noland for Senate Dist. 22, Democrat

In the Democratic primary for Illinois Senate District 22, incumbent Michael Noland, who was first elected in 2006, is challenged by a political newcomer, Tim Elenz. The key distinction in this race is experience, and it shows in the level of detail with which the two candidates, both from Elgin, discuss the issues. Noland, recently selected by the Senate president to serve on a governor’s panel studying pensions, is intimately familiar with the relative merits and shortcomings of various proosals for dealing with the state’s pension crisis. He has a comprehensive understanding of the budget problems facing the state and, although no party maverick by any means, was willing to break from the Democrats and vote against the state’s income tax hike. He supports term limits for legislative leaders, opposes further state borrowing and wants to see a comprehensive restructuring of the state’s tax system. Elenz contends that Noland doesn’t work as effectively as he could with the region’s other legislators and complains that Noland did not fight hard enough against casino expansion. He has a broad sense of the challenges facing the state budget, but his proposals often lack detail or specific insight. Noland is the better candidate. The 22nd District runs from north of Carpentersville down to south of Streamwood, stretching from west of Elgin to east of Hoffman Estates.