Debate pits state House hopefuls

Term limits, transportation and abortion issues divided state House of Representative candidates Thursday night.

The Republican candidates for the 49th and 50th House districts answered voter questions in a forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Geneva-St. Charles.

Incumbent Tim Schmitz is running against Jim Krenz in the Feb. 5 primary for the 49th District. In the 50th District seat vacated by Patricia Reid Lindner, the candidates are Tony Graff, Kay Hatcher, Terry Hunt and David Richmond.

Hunt was the lone 50th District candidate opposing the Prairie Parkway.

Hatcher said the roadway is needed to keep trucks off local roads, but access should be limited so as not to increase congestion.

Richmond said repaving Route 31 should be a priority in the state's capital plan.

With the exception of Hatcher, who said she supports the right to choose, candidates touted their opposition to abortion.

In response to a question about the Planned Parenthood clinic in Aurora, Graff said he would support legislation to make the approval process for a clinic more open to the public.

Krenz and Hunt said they would support term limits for legislators. Krenz said he would limit himself to three terms if elected.

"Many people have outlived their necessity to be there," he said.

Schmitz, Graff, Hatcher and Richmond said they didn't think term limits were needed.

Schmitz said he worried limits would "empower bureaucrats" who could wait out terms of legislators before doing what they wanted.

"The voters take care of term limits," he said.

The winner of the Republican primary for the 50th District will face Democrat Mary Schneider in the general election. No Democrats filed for the 49th District seat.