O'Hare noise a major issue in McAuliffe-Marwig race
The 20th state House district includes parts of Des Plaines, Rosemont, Park Ridge, Niles, Schiller Park and Chicago's Northwest Side - all areas heavily impacted by noise from nearby O'Hare International Airport.
It's no wonder then that airport noise has been a campaign issue in the race pitting longtime Republican incumbent Rep. Michael McAuliffe and Democratic challenger Merry Marwig, who both reside on the Northwest Side.
Marwig was on the leadership team of the Fair Allocation in Runways Coalition, an anti-noise advocacy group, before stepping down to pursue her campaign for the state legislature. She says she decided to run for office after "running into brick walls" with elected officials about jet noise.
She's criticized McAuliffe for his vote in favor of O'Hare expansion in 2003, and subsequent response to additional airplane noise in the years that followed.
"You are in charge," Marwig said of McAuliffe. "You are the elected leader who should be asking questions, should be having forums, should be grilling people on what will happen to our community, and that did not happen."
McAuliffe said he has done everything he can legislatively to help alleviate noise, by working with Chicago Democrats and members of the FAiR Coalition themselves to craft bills.
He was the chief co-sponsor of a bill to keep diagonal runways open at the request of FAiR. He said other legislation got the organization a voice on the O'Hare Noise Compatibility Commission.
McAuliffe said he's also sponsored resolutions asking Chicago and the Federal Aviation Administration to "be better neighbors" by adhering to a Fly Quiet program.
Another McAuliffe bill that has passed out of committee would give homeowners a tax credit up to $20,000 over five years to soundproof their homes. He says he's also considering legislation that could give airlines incentives to fly quieter airplanes.
Marwig took credit for FAiR's work, especially the group's effectiveness in convincing the Chicago Department of Aviation to rotate runways at night.
Going forward, Marwig said she supports expanding sound contour boundaries, which would allow more residents to get reimbursed for soundproofing.