Prochno in GOP House 66

Illinois House 66 Republicans

State Rep. Carolyn Krause of Mount Prospect is not seeking re-election in the 66th Illinois House District, and she will be tough to replace. She's been a dedicated public servant for the Northwest suburbs for three decades, first as mayor of Mount Prospect and then in the legislature where she has focused on health care, mass transit and an array of other relevant challenges.

Two able candidates are vying for the Republican nomination in the district, which takes in parts of Arlington Heights, Des Plaines, Elk Grove Village, Mount Prospect, Rolling Meadows and Schaumburg. Frankly, we're torn between the two. Each offers particular attributes that would serve them well in Springfield.

Christine Prochno, a teacher and a district resident for five decades, can point to her solid experience as a trustee on the Elk Grove Village board for the past 10 years and a variety of civic activities beyond that. Laura Bartell, who works in advertising sales and investment banking, ran an unsuccessful but close race last year for the Arlington Heights village board and has been active in Republican Party politics.

Each boasts an impressive list of endorsements from party organizations and influential community leaders. Their perspectives are reasonably close on the issues, although we sense that Bartell is slightly more conservative. Certainly, while they share traditional Republican values to limit spending and taxes, they have different areas of emphasis. Prochno focuses more on school funding; Bartell, more on spurring economic growth.

As we said, we're torn. We like Bartell's bubbling energy and think it would make her an active legislator who works hard to stay in touch. But in the end, it's impossible to overlook Prochno's history of service to the community. We're convinced it has prepared her well for the General Assembly. We endorse Christine Prochno in the Feb. 5 primary.

The winner of this primary will face Democrat Mark Walker in November.