Endorsement: Caffrey for Democrats in House District 47

The 47th House district has traditionally been a safe Republican seat, so much so that incumbent Patti Bellock, first elected in 1999, was unopposed three times. But when Bellock announced she wasn't running for reelection, two Democrats decided to throw their hats in the ring. Jim Caffrey, 52, of Elmhurst and Anne Sommerkamp, 58, of Downers Grove are running in the March 20 primary for the right to oppose Republican Deanne Mazzochi of Elmhurst.

Caffrey, who says he left his longtime sales job with Clorox to devote full-time to his campaign, and Sommerkamp, a former television journalist who now works in health care, both point to growing Democratic strength in the suburbs and the backlash against President Donald Trump as reasons they think they can win. While the two candidates have similar positions on many issues, we endorse Caffrey because his positions on several key issues are in line with ones we have espoused.

Caffrey, for example, says he will not vote for Michael Madigan to remain House Speaker, while Sommerkamp, who has union support, says she'd have to see who is running. He favors term limits for legislative leaders. He favors government consolidation, including in the state university system. He believes all options should be on the table in dealing with the state's pension crisis, including a move to 401(k) plans for future state employees. He wants an end to gerrymandering. These are the kinds of changes needed in Illinois.