State Senate District 22: Rauschenberger

Four years ago, Steve Rauschenberger left the Senate seat he held for 14 years to run unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor.

His tenure representing a district that centers in Elgin and spans eastern Kane and western Cook counties was marked by independence and a strong, conservative fiscal expertise that had him chairing the Senate Appropriations Committee for many years. We endorsed him throughout that time for those very reasons.

This year he wants his seat back and is challenging incumbent Democrat Michael Noland.

We have not seen strong independence from Noland at a time when a suburban Democrat should be flexing his muscles to effect significant reforms. Most glaring was Noland making excuses for Gov. Pat Quinn's shameful veto of Noland's bill that would fix a loophole and rightfully send more state aid to Elgin-area schools.

Noland's job was not over just when it passed the Senate.

We're not in sync with Rauschenberger's conservative social issues stances, but we think he can return to his seat and be a leader on helping to deal with the state's fiscal crisis.

Rauschenberger is endorsed.