Endorsement: Oberweis over Pierog in 25th Senate District

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The choice for Illinois state Senate from the 25th District is a classic head scratcher. On the Democratic side of the ballot, voters have Corinne Pierog of St. Charles, an engaging and thoughtful St. Charles School Board member and leadership consultant whose answers on state issues have grown more polished and thorough since the primary but still inspire only moderate confidence. On the Republican side, they have Jim Oberweis of Sugar Grove, the dairy magnate and failed candidate for governor and U.S. senator whose renegade conservatism has made him a difficult option for moderate voters to accept. This might not be the case in all elections and all environments, but considering the state's present circumstances, we're getting behind Oberweis. At a time when the state desperately needs to improve its business climate, his business background is a clear advantage. He has moderated his approach, if not all his ideas, over the course of the past decade and does seem to offer the prospect of a candidate who will work to find collaborative solutions to problems even when they run counter to party directions. Pierog is herself no doctrinaire Democrat and seems likely to veer from the party line when she feels a need to. But for overall independence and a special skill set the economically depressed state seriously needs right now, Oberweis is the better choice.