Endorsement: Winger has the edge in House Dist. 45

With state Rep. Dennis Reboletti not running for re-election in House District 45, a new legislator is guaranteed to be elected Nov. 4. Jenny Burke, an Itasca District 10 school board member, is the Democratic candidate and Christine Winger, a Wood Dale city councilwoman, is the Republican. Both are politically moderate, industrious and self-starters who ran for their local offices after getting involved in their communities at the grass-roots level. Both pledge to listen to their constituents - and indeed, have already demonstrated that they know how to do that.

We like them both, but of the two, Winger appears to be the best prepared to take over the job in Springfield. She has made connection with most of the mayors in House District 45 and has a good command of the issues, facts and figures that will face her in the legislature. Winger's stances on financial issues largely reflect ours and she believes that prioritizing how dollars are spent, rather than making broad cuts to state spending, is the most rational approach. She opposes the extension of the income tax increase and she opposes shifting the pension burden onto local school districts.

We think Winger is ready, and she has our endorsement.