For lieutenant governor: Murphy's the best choice for Republicans

In the six-way Republican race for lieutenant governor, Matt Murphy stands out as the clear choice.

The ambitious state senator from Palatine stands on a strong record in support of open government and reform measures. He co-sponsored legislation that posts state spending and investments online. He rightfully pushed for a special election to fill the senate seat vacated by Barack Obama and he's a proponent of recall.

He has fought for important suburban issues such as the legislation that permitted the rollback of the sales tax increase that put Cook County businesses at a disadvantage.

We are troubled by his unwavering opposition to any sort of tax increase. We prefer candidates who show willingness to compromise and work with opponents to find common ground. We fail to see a way Illinois could resolve its budget crisis without a combination of spending cuts, a healthy economy and some source of new revenue.

Two candidates, attorney Don Tracy and Carbondale Mayor Brad Cole, oppose a tax hike but are open to compromise. We prefer this view.

However, this question will not be central to the lieutenant governor job. The office oversees rural issues and the Illinois Main Street program. Murphy has been a friend to business and has built relationships that will be valuable in his goal to use the office to champion job creation for a long-lasting boost to the economy of the state - and the suburbs.

Cole is a strong candidate whose commitment to open government begins with his own campaign. He was first to voluntarily post his campaign contributions on his Web site well ahead of the January reporting deadline. Others in the race include Jason Plummer, the Rev. Randy White and Dennis Cook.