Endorsement: Robertson for Republicans in Illinois Senate District 27
The Republican primary for the 27th Senate District, which encompasses the heart of Northwest suburban Cook County, pits a career educator against a retired Army sergeant.
Bill Robertson of Palatine teaches college now but is a former Palatine-Schaumburg Township High School District 211 school board president as well as superintendent for Fremont Elementary School District 79 in Mundelein.
Joshua Alvarado of Rolling Meadows retired from the Army amid Illinois' COVID-19 shutdown, and his opposition to Gov. J.B. Pritzker's mandate is what prompted him to run for Senate.
Both candidates are staunch fiscal conservatives, and Alvarado goes so far as to state that he would under no circumstances support a tax increase of any kind.
Robertson has the financial backing of the state Republican Party as well as donations from Republican State Sens. Don DeWitte and Dan McConchie.
Robertson completed a candidate questionnaire but ignored requests by our editorial board to discuss the issues further. We wish he had.
He offered middle-of-the road Republican responses lacking specific solutions.
Still, although Alvarado has the endorsement of Palatine Township (and the financial backing of its leader, Aaron Del Mar, who is Gary Rabine's running mate for governor) we're concerned with Alvarado's intractability on issues.
Robertson is endorsed.
The winner of the Republican primary will face incumbent Democrat Ann Gillespie in November.