Endorsement: Shores for House Dist. 62

This endorsement is a consensus opinion of the Daily Herald Editorial Board.

There are races for the Illinois General Assembly where a factor beyond simply the qualities of the candidates must be considered. In the case of Illinois House Dist. 62 in the 2023 General Assembly, where two extremely able candidates are vying for the seat, that factor is legislative balance.

It is not just that the state House's overwhelming tilt toward Democrats needs more Republicans to offer constructive challenges, but it also needs more responsible Republicans in that role.

In House Dist. 62, voters have a candidate who fills that role impressively. Adam R. Shores, an insurance executive who recently moved to Libertyville, is a former Grayslake village trustee making his first foray into statewide politics.

He offers forceful yet measured ideas for controlling spending and debt in the Illinois budget, and sees ethics reform as a central issue in restoring the public's faith in state lawmakers, a position whose importance was emphasized last week with a new indictment of former Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan on corruption charges.

The Shores selection is by no means an easy choice. Democrat Laura Faver Dias, a business owner from Grayslake, is a passionate advocate for women's rights, responsible climate policy, education funding and more. As a fellow trustee with Shores, she knows what it takes to work constructively in a body featuring diverse points of view. We have every confidence she would make an effective legislator.

There is no doubt that Dias and Shores hold differing philosophies on government and economic and social policies. And they also both offer the promise of advancing their views responsibly and effectively. But in the current environment in Springfield, there is a specific need for the kind of balance Shores represents. He is endorsed.

House Dist. 62 covers communities in northwestern Lake County ranging from Wauconda to Grayslake and Round Lake Beach.