Endorsement: Sente in House Dist. 59
We've been critical of suburban Democratic Illinois House members who have failed to challenge the leadership of Speaker Michael Madigan. But when one does, it's notable.
Carol Sente is one such legislator. The incumbent representing House District 59, which takes in parts of Buffalo Grove, Gurnee, Lincolnshire, Long Grove, Mundelein, Vernon Hills and Waukegan, voted against Madigan's $7 billion unbalanced budget proposal last spring. She also has supported and sponsored term limits for legislative leaders. We like her independent spirit and the fact that she looks across the aisle, not just down the hall to the speaker's office, when proposing or considering legislation. We need more people like that on both sides of the aisle in Springfield.
Sente, in office since 2009, is a smart and well-informed legislator who earns our endorsement.
Her GOP opponent, Dawn Abernathy, a Mundelein village trustee since 2013, is a passionate campaigner. But she would need a learning curve to get up to speed in the Capitol. With Sente already there, we see no reason to make that change.