Endorsement: Keith Wheeler for House Dist. 50

Keith Wheeler of Oswego is running for his fourth term in the Illinois House in the 50th District. We endorse him in this election as we have in the past.

Wheeler, who ascended to Assistant House Republican Leader last year, is impressive on all counts.

He's not just a thoughtful, business-oriented conservative. He's also a hardworking collaborator and a decent guy in a political environment that too often is cutthroat.

His legislative agenda is built around a four-point vision for Illinois: Create jobs, cut property taxes, reform state government and replace gerrymandering with independent maps.

He understands that Springfield must control its spending and that public pension reform is a necessary element in doing so.

While some of that may seem wishful thinking for a minority-party legislator to accomplish, it's nonetheless a sound starting point for Wheeler's work and a worthwhile ambition to use as an ongoing touchstone.

We like Kate Monteleone, a nonprofit consultant from Campton Township who is running as the Democratic alternative, She strikes us as earnest and well motivated, a solid and articulate candidate.

But Wheeler has served ably in his first three terms and he deserves a fourth.

We endorse him in District 50, which takes in all or parts of Aurora, Batavia, Big Rock, Campton Hills, Elburn, Geneva, Lily Lake, Montgomery, North Aurora, Oswego, Plano, Prestbury, St. Charles, Sugar Grove, and Yorkville.