A tale of two yard signs
Like wildflowers sprouting after a spring rain, campaign yard signs mark the season. This year, a remarkable hybrid is spreading across DuPage County lawns, a warning of political climate change. Two signs on our lawn would not normally flourish side by side. They display my family's support for two public servants, one offering to represent us in the State House, the other in the Senate.
Jim Caffrey won the Democratic nomination for Illinois' 47th State House District by promising to challenge the grip of House Speaker Mike Madigan on our state and his party. Democrats find it easy to fault their GOP brethren for failing to confront Donald Trump, yet when asked what they plan to do about the mini-Trump who functions as their party's real leader in Illinois, they shrug. Not Caffrey. He has refused to take Madigan's money and promised to press for accountability once elected. Caffrey represents the sensible, bold, service-first attitude that we once took for granted in DuPage County.
Chris Nybo has a distinguished record representing us in the State Senate. He has never shied away from conflict with his party or special interests when necessary to protect us. Amid the toxic bloom of bigotry that's marked the Trump era, Nybo is a rare Republican who's won the endorsement of Equality Illinois and the Illinois Gun Violence Prevention PAC. He's pressed for equal pay legislation, sponsored passage of the Equal Rights Amendment, and help pass sensible new gun control laws.
Courage is the rarest, most precious element in our politics. We shouldn't waste an opportunity to elect candidates willing to defend their conscience, placing service and country over party. Despite their many differences, Caffrey and Nybo best embody our hope for a brighter future.
Chris Ladd
Elmhurst