Thillens represents spirit of collaboration

As the son of a standing Democratic mayor and husband of a strong Park Ridge Republican, I see the clear divide we are faced with as an electorate. In a recent Politico poll, unfortunately 80 percent of us think we are headed in the wrong direction as a country.

This is true in Illinois, too. In Illinois and across our country, we need the various political parties to realize that some of their arguments are wrong and that some of the policies advocated by the "opponents" may actually be better. Through persuasive yet constructive interaction, we need leaders in Springfield to serve with civility, exchange ideas and negotiate win-win solutions, and then produce and advance them through our political process with some reasonable trade-offs - not brute force.

Enough with character assassinations! Vote for Mel Thillens and others who represent and demonstrate these types of values and the spirit of collaboration. We don't need Mike Madigan pulling the strings in our 55th House District anymore.

Rob Leach

Park Ridge