Our pick: Retain Manzullo in 16th District

We frequently disagree with Rep. Don Manzullo of Egan over the solutions to the nation's challenges. He's generally more conservative on social issues than most suburbanites, and he was wrong with his votes in favor of war in Iraq and against the economic recovery bill passed by Congress and supported by President Bush and Sen. John McCain, the standard-bearer of Manzullo's Republican Party.

That said, we respect Manzullo. His philosophy is thoughtful, not reflexive. We don't sense the divisive polarization spawned by some on the far reaches of both the right and the left.

Whatever the case, no one can question his exhaustive commitment to his constituents, and in particular, his zestful work on behalf of 16th District manufacturing companies. In fact, he's one of the leading manufacturing proponents in the country with impressive expertise on trade and other business-related subjects.

For all those reasons, we endorse Manzullo over two feisty but less well-rounded opponents, Barrington Hills Village President Robert Abboud, the Democratic candidate; and McHenry County College Trustee Scott Summers of Harvard, the Green Party candidate.