43rd District candidates play it safe in debate

With mud in the forms of political mailers being flung and a boxing ring-style bell set up to tell candidates when their time was up, one might have thought hopefuls for the 43rd District state representative race would have come out swinging at an Elgin forum Thursday night.

State Rep. Keith Farnham and challenger Ruth Munson did exchange a few subtle barbs, but they mainly stuck to their themes conveyed on the campaign trail.

Farnham, a Democrat who knocked off Munson two years ago by 322 votes, trumpeted his efforts to get Elgin Area School District U-46 more state funding.

Munson, a Republican who held the seat for a little over six years, said the state needed new leadership in Springfield.

Farnham said he would fight to overturn Gov. Pat Quinn's veto of a bill that would have changed a funding formula and brought $22 million to the district.

He cited overwhelming support for the bill as an example of how he can work with Republicans, too.

“This is 41,000 children who deserve this funding and we will make this right, Farnham said. “Why didn't my opponent bring this up during the seven years she was in the General Assembly?

Both candidates shared similar views on several issues, starting with opposing tax increases.

They opposed an expansion of video gambling machines, support a woman's right to have an abortion, agree the state's budget problem needs to be fixed and pledged they would work to create more jobs.

Munson said if elected, she will vote to remove House Speaker Michael Madigan and be part of “new direction that can help turn the state around.

“You deserve a government that plans for the next generation, not the next election, she said. “Things aren't working. It's not getting better.

The election is Nov. 2, although early voting begins on Tuesday and runs through Oct. 28.

The district includes parts of Elgin, South Elgin, East Dundee and Carpentersville.