Two candidates willing to challenge status quo

It has gotten to the point that I read your election endorsements to determine for whom not to vote. In particular, your endorsements in the 6th Congressional District and Illinois Senate District 25 races have me completely baffled.

As a small-business owner, I have seen a significant number of clients flee Illinois for greener pastures. As a lifelong Illinois resident with three generations of family in the area, I am saddened, angry and frustrated at our once-great state's fiscal mess. It is these experiences that inform my vote.

Jeanne Ives and Jeannette Ward are two of very few people in politics who actually care about taxpayers. I am very confident they will do everything possible to make good decisions, even the hard ones. The tone of your endorsements in these races indicates that you like the status quo and are against rocking the boat. Well, the status quo got us in this mess and certainly will not get us out.

We need fearless leaders who will buck trends and even go against their own party when necessary. Getting out of this mess in Illinois is going to take bold decisions and out-of-the box thinking. Jeannette Ward has proved she can deliver both. At the federal level, we need bold representation on issues such as entitlements, the debt and immigration. Jeanne Ives has the track record and courage to take on these issues with force.

Based on your endorsement track record, I rightly predicted that your endorsement for U.S. president would be Joe Biden, a 48-year political insider who will work within the system. That's your guy.

Stephen W. DeFilippis

Wayne