An agenda for those who would lead

It's that time again already. No, not back to school. No, not football season. We refer today to that other one, campaign season.

Last week, candidates began collecting signatures to secure ballot spots. Next week at this time, candidates and their loyal supporters will invade the state fairgrounds in Springfield for rallies that essentially start the season. Before we know it, we'll be inundated with ads and attempting to sift fact from fiction amid all the rhetoric.

We're thrilled it appears we will have strongly contested races and critical choices to make for governor and U.S. Senate. After the debacles of our previous two governors and the resulting mess of filling one of our Senate seats, we have important work ahead of us. And so do the candidates. Here, then, are the problems we believe the candidates must talk about in specific detail:

Spending and taxing: In Illinois, elected officials continue to spend more than is collected in taxes. And talk of an income tax increase continues. How would the candidates end the spending madness, and what specifically are their views on the menu of revenue raising options? Do they favor video gambling or other gambling expansion, for instance?

Pension changes: Public pensions systems are a significant part of our state budget mess. In July, elected officials agreed to borrow $3.5 billion, in part, to make needed pension payments. There was talk of increasing employee pension contributions or creating a defined contribution plan for new workers, but it didn't happen. An overhaul absolutely is needed in Illinois and perhaps nationally too.

Cleansing corruption: This was atop the agenda for months this spring, but the results proved our current Illinois leaders were unwilling to dilute their own power. We need redistricting and campaign finance reform to create more competitive contests. It must be more than cosmetic. We need to hear specifics.

The children, our future: For two decades now there's been no shortage of talk about school funding reform. Many suburbs have healthy property tax bases to fund many schools, but others do not. And we're shortchanging our grandchildren's future if we continue to ignore the proper education of Chicago and downstate children. Who will lead us in another 20 years and who finally can solve this morass?

Jobs, jobs, jobs: Even in a good economy, job creation and business expansion is the key to creating a solid society with healthy citizens and low crime. If we haven't learned from the current economy that we're all connected and all our problems are connected, then we've really had our heads buried deep in the summer sand. How can we create good jobs that will keep us heading away from personal and public financial calamity?

Which candidates will provide the specific answers? We'll be listening carefully.