Endorsement: Link over Castella in 30th Senate District

We can’t say we’re on board with every decision Democratic state Sen. Terry Link has made. He has led the charge to widely expand gambling to include casinos in Lake County, and he voted for the 2011 corporate and income tax increases. Despite our distaste for these positions, we believe Link, a Waukegan resident, is the better choice over Republican challenger Don Castella, a retired small business owner from Lincolnshire. Castella, while earnest and well-intentioned, does not demonstrate a realistic approach to solving Illinois’ financial crisis, and some of his statements on social issues — notably about gays and lesbians — have been beyond immoderate. To Link’s credit, he has taken the lead on a number of initiatives that have benefited the diverse 30th District during his 16-year tenure, and his dedication as chief sponsor to the smoke-free Illinois legislation is commendable. In addition, his skill at working with both Democrats and Republicans has become increasingly important in an era of partisanship and gridlock. He believes pension reform must be broader than just shifting the burden to local school districts and would vote for that only if protections for taxpayers are guaranteed. We endorse Link for his past accomplishments that have brought him respect from both sides of the aisle. The 30th District includes portions of Buffalo Grove, Gurnee, Lincolnshire, Mettawa, Mundelein, North Chicago, Park City, Vernon Hills, Waukegan and Wheeling.