Endorsement: The Daily Herald recommends Rooney over Gillespie for Illinois Senate District 27

Tom Rooney, appointed to the state Senate in 2016 to finish Matt Murphy's term in the 27th district, has been a mostly reliable Republican vote over these two years. On guns, however, we're happy to see he's still thinking like the Rolling Meadows mayor he used to be.

In 2017, he was the only Republican state senator to vote to require a background check and state dealer's license to sell firearms in Illinois. In May, he was among nine Republicans who voted with Democrats to authorize courts to temporarily confiscate firearms from people who appear to be a danger to themselves or others.

He supports a ban on bump stocks, but voted against the bill because of a late amendment that would have allowed each home rule municipality in Illinois to enact gun bans. Despite that vote, the Gun Violence Prevention PAC is endorsing him for re-election.

So are we. We have always liked Rooney for an even temperament, and a pragmatic approach to public policy. On social issues he is more conservative than we would like, but he's no ideological zealot. He can support his policy positions with detailed argument - and while we don't always agree with his conclusions, at least we always know how he got there.

Ann Gillespie, of Arlington Heights and a retired CVS Caremark executive, is running against him. She decisively won the March primary without the support of the state Democratic Party. She has it now, and they are spending bushels of money on her behalf.

Her positions generally line up with Democratic talking points and she is particularly knowledgeable on health care. Gillespie, like other Democrats, is openly supporting term limits for legislative leaders.

That sounds like a direct shot at House Speaker Mike Madigan, but keep in mind that if voters pass term limits in 2020, he wouldn't have to step down until 2030.

We like Gillespie, but we know Rooney. Former municipal leaders make good state legislators. They act as a check on Springfield, to keep it from ravaging municipal budgets. Their contact lists are filled with the names of mayors, school officials, social agencies and others in their districts whose constituents are affected directly by Springfield policies. We heartily endorse Rooney.