New leadership needed

As a former lieutenant governor of Illinois, serving along with Gov. Jim Edgar from 1990 to 1998 and as a Republican member of the Illinois legislature for 10 years, I endorsed many Republicans running for office. Today, I write in support of the Democratic candidate in Illinois' Sixth Congressional District, Sean Casten.

Since I left politics and pursued a career as a university president, I have watched the Republican Party drift further to the extreme and alienate moderate voters. I have watched members of my party gravitate from serving as delegates of their constituents to serving the narrow interests of Donald Trump. This year's midterm elections affords voters of both parties the opportunity to send a message to Washington that the politics of division and self-interest must be rejected.

We have all watched Peter Roskam talk about bipartisanship and then take every opportunity to align himself with President Trump. From voting to kick thousands of Illinoisans off their health insurance, to jeopardizing coverage for those with pre-existing conditions, to authoring a tax bill that cuts taxes for large corporations and adds trillions to the deficit at the expense of middle class families, Congressman Roskam has not demonstrated an interest in working across the aisle to find bipartisan solutions.

Today, I am endorsing a man who will serve as an independent check on the president, who will provide checks and balances to a Congress out of control and who will fight for common-sense, bipartisan policies in Congress: Sean Casten. Sean's business record and commitment to working with both Democrats and Republicans in Congress are long overdue in Washington.

Bob Kustra

Boise, Idaho