What's the main issue in 49th House race? Time
If Jim Krenz is elected to the state House of Representatives, he won't be there long.
The Carpentersville businessman, who is challenging Tim Schmitz for the Republican nomination, said he would limit himself to three terms in the Statehouse.
Krenz is running his campaign on the idea that most of the politicians in Springfield have been there too long.
But Schmitz, assistant Republican leader in the House, said time is necessary to learn the ropes and be effective.
In his past six years in the Statehouse, $51 million in funds for transportation has come back to the district, he said.
On many of the big issues relating to business, budgets and pensions, the two candidates agree.
Dealing with growth in the district, including funds for transportation and high-growth school districts, would be Schmitz's priority, he said.
Establishing legislator term limits and revamping the state's pension system are priorities for Krenz.
Krenz has criticized Schmitz for being "out of touch" with his district, positioning himself as the more conservative candidate.
He said school vouchers, instead of more funds, should be the focus of education reform.
Krenz has the backing of conservative activist Jack Roeser, who donated more than $5,000 to Krenz's campaign earlier this month.
Krenz said Schmitz was soft on illegal immigrants by voting to grant them in-state tuition at colleges.
Schmitz said some of Krenz's claims are misleading. The vote Krenz referred to actually increased the criteria to qualify for in-state tuition, including requiring applying for U.S. citizenship for anyone on a work or student visa, he said.
Schmitz also touted legislation he introduced that requires library districts to alert surrounding districts if they are going to vote on an annexation.
That statute went into effect this month. It was drafted in response to the dispute between the Batavia and Geneva libraries.
The 49th District reaches from Geneva to Carpentersville on the west side of the Fox River, and goes out to the west of Elgin.
No Democrat has filed for the seat, so the winner of the primary is almost assured the spot.