Endoresement: Daily Herald backs Wheeler over Leslie for Illinois House District 50

In two terms in Springfield, Republican Keith Wheeler, of Oswego, has staked out clear territory in the camp of General Assembly conservatives.

He has a strong record fighting for spending controls, pension reform and property tax relief. At the same time, he also has learned the necessity for minority-party lawmakers to work across the aisle - and doubly hard at that - to get anything accomplished.

He is challenged by Democrat James Leslie, a firefighter/paramedic and union financial manager from Aurora. Leslie's budget experience helps inform his positions on matters such as school funding and the state budget, and he demonstrates fierce passion for the goal of improving government. But when it comes to the experience, skill, temperament and focus on the state's most pressing needs required to be successful, Wheeler remains the solid choice. He is endorsed.