Clearly best for House

Mary Edly-Allen is clearly the better candidate for state representative in the 51st District. She has now been endorsed by all three major newspapers in the Chicagoland area. Here are five reasons I have voted for Mary:

1. Mary Edly-Allen, who is bilingual, is an English Language teacher in Grayslake. She has taught children from diverse ethnicities, religions, family constellations and languages on a daily basis. That intimate day-to-day involvement includes respecting, understanding and appreciating differences when working with the children's families and empathizing with children who are afraid their families might be deported.

Her opponent has shared hateful messages (since deleted) on Facebook regarding African countries and Muslim residents.

2. Mary Edly-Allen is opposed to the idea of arming teachers to protect against school violence. Mary supports common-sense gun laws and gun violence prevention. She is endorsed by the Illinois Federation of Teachers. Her opponent supports arming teachers and allowing people to possess assault rifles.

3. Mary Edly-Allen supports a clean, healthy environment for all. She believes in the preservation of our National Parks, including the protection of animals and other natural resources. She is endorsed by The Sierra Club whose partial mission statement follows: "to explore, enjoy and protect the planet. To practice and promote the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and re-sources …" Needless to say, Mary stands up for science.

4. Regarding health care, Mary supports insurance for people with pre-existing conditions.

5. Mary supports green jobs and investments in a smart power grid. She will promote growth policies that benefit the economy and the environment.

A vote for Mary is a vote for a smart, reasonable lawmaker, who is willing to work across the aisle to get things done for her constituents in the great state of Illinois.

Carol S. Huntsinger

Libertyville