Endorsement: McSweeney's drive merits return in House 52
After a couple of unsuccessful bids for office in recent years, including a race for Congress, Barrington Hills resident David McSweeney could have thrown in the towel. But his drive to contribute to potential solutions to the state's problems kept him going until he won a term as state representative in the 52nd District two years ago. From the get-go, the freshman Republican began making a name for himself among his peers, speaking freely and earnestly when he saw the need for changes. He has put suburban interests out front, working to reduce the property tax burdens of his constituents. McSweeney believes in leading by example, and indeed he does, having declined a legislative pension and cut his own office's budget by 10 percent. Considering his business-world experience in finance and investments, he is a strong asset to the highly scrutinized House revenue and pension committees on which he sits.
McSweeney is facing a challenge from Democrat Bill Downs of Cary, an IT manager for a global manufacturer, who says he would place a high priority on strengthening the state's infrastructure. While we like his energy and ideas, we endorse McSweeney as an emerging leader who is unafraid to call for change that would benefit residents both in the suburbs and statewide.