District 46 House candidates disagree on marriage equality

When it comes to marriage equality, the two candidates for the state's 46th District House seat could not be any further apart.

Heidi Holan is the Republican challenger running against incumbent Democrat Deb Conroy, who has held the seat since 2013.

The district covers all or parts of Addison, Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Elmhurst, Glen Ellyn, Glendale Heights, Lombard, Oakbrook Terrace and Villa Park.

In an endorsement interview with the Daily Herald, the candidates sparred over the question of marriage equality.

"I believe the definition of marriage is one man, one woman; one husband, one wife; one father, one mother," Holan said.

Holan said she would not have voted for Senate Bill 10, which went into effect this year and allows same-sex couples to get married in Illinois.

She said if someone filed a bill overturning marriage equality, she would "probably" support it.

Conroy, who voted in support of the bill, has a completely different take.

"I have never believed in any form of discrimination and I firmly believe in a separation of church and state," Conroy said. "I do not legislate according to what political backgrounds you have, or what religious backgrounds you have, or what nationality you are, or who you love."

Despite her personal beliefs, Holan said she thinks the district is "overwhelmingly" in favor of gay marriage.

That's the point, Conroy said.

"You're not going to Springfield to use your views," Conroy told Holan during the interview. "You're going to Springfield to represent the 46th District."

But Holan said she must be true to her values.

"I am going to Springfield with a certain set of values and there are certain values (that at) some point in time you do not violate," she said.