Endorsement: Ugaste in Illinois House District 65

Much has been said and written about the decline of the Republican Party in Illinois, and particularly in the suburbs that once served as the state GOP’s bulwark.

When the party was a force in suburban politics, it was populated by lawmakers like Rep. Dan Ugaste.

Ugaste, an attorney from Geneva seeking his fifth term in the Illinois House, is a serious, thoughtful legislator who’s earned a reputation as someone who can work across party lines without abandoning his fiscally conservative principles. And those principles are in short supply in Springfield, where Ugaste’s colleagues have too often turned to new and more taxes to address the state’s financial needs.

Contrary to that, Ugaste has proposed creative solutions, such as a bill that would create a state program awarding grants to school districts that provide homeowners with property tax relief. Another would end local governments’ practice of rolling over bonds rather than seeking voter approval to issue new ones.

Challenging Ugaste this year is Democrat Ricky Rivard of St. Charles. The 45-year-old adjunct professor at Elmhurst University and real estate agent is focused on progressive issues, including expanding health care coverage, creating more attainable housing and eliminating restrictive zoning that often prevents it, and protecting reproductive freedom.

He also accuses Ugaste of “working for the radical right,” something that does not align with our experiences with him.

Rather, Ugaste has shown us to be the kind of reasonable conservative voice needed to provide some balance in an overwhelmingly Democratic state government. He earns our endorsement.