Endorsement: McSweeney over Beaubien in 52nd House District

The race for the 52nd House District took a new shape in April when Dee Beaubien of Barrington entered as an independent after Kent Gaffney — the GOP’s hand-picked successor to her late husband, longtime state Rep. Mark Beaubien — lost his Republican primary bid to David McSweeney. Since then, Beaubien has been criticized for accepting money from House Speaker Michael Madigan and thereby beholding herself to him and Democrats. She responds that she has received money from independent Republicans as well. But the larger issue for us is her unwillingness to reveal which caucus she would align herself with in Springfield. Voters cannot know what they would get when she keeps her cards so close the vest. McSweeney, a Barrington Hills investment banker and former Palatine Township trustee, offers experience in the business world and a strong plan to solve the state’s fiscal problems that focuses on small business. Despite these assets, he gives us pause, too. While it’s not unusual for candidates to challenge candidacies of opponents, McSweeney has made it an art form, filing petition objections against both of his primary foes and then Beaubien — all unsuccessfully. Such actions run counter to goals of collaboration and compromise in the face of disagreement. McSweeney gets our endorsement, but we hope he’ll take a greater spirit of cooperation with him to Springfield.