For 9th Congressional District, Republican: Pollak

The economy is foremost on the minds of the two Republican candidates for the 9th Congressional District.

Joel Pollak, a human rights attorney, says he aims to reset discretionary spending in Washington to where it was a year ago by targeting pork and reining in earmarks. He believes a vast expansion of government has choked out opportunity, particularly for small businesses. While his goal toward seeing the entire budgeting process reformed is lofty, we think he catches the spirit of fiscal accountability and restraint.

Susanne Atanus, a paralegal, has a proposal for stimulating the economy with the idea that "everyone will do well." However, her plan lacks detail and tends toward populism. Her candidate status is in limbo pending her appeal of a court decision to remove her from the ballot for failure to meet petition standards.

Pollak gets our endorsement. He grew up in the 9th District, which stretches from Des Plaines to the lakefront, and understands the diversity of its people. His Harvard education includes a degree in environmental science, and he could offer valuable insight into the cap-and-trade and other related debates.